Words That Start With W — Scrabble & Word Games

W is the 18th most common letter in English at about 2.4%. Its name (“double-U”) reveals its origin — W was created by doubling a U in medieval manuscripts. W is distinctive for being one of only three English consonants that can end a syllable with a vowel-like sound (HOW, LOW, SAW).

In Scrabble, W is worth 4 points with 2 W tiles in the bag. W is high-value but scarce; W-initial short words are useful for scoring without emptying the rack. Memorised W-words include WO, WE, WEB, WAX, WIZ, WYE, WON.

Productive W-prefixes are rare in English (W is mostly Anglo-Saxon and doesn’t carry Greek or Latin prefixes), but W does anchor some distinctive word families: WITH- (against — WITHSTAND, WITHDRAW), and the distinctively English digraphs WH- (WHAT, WHERE, WHEN), WR- (WRITE, WRECK, WRING). W-initial Anglo-Saxon roots dominate the common vocabulary: WATER, WINTER, WOOD, WIND, WILL.

Top 500 Highest-Scoring Words Starting With W (500 of 5,908)

WHIZZINGLY38
WHIZZBANGS37
WHIZZBANG36
WAZZOCKS35
WAZZOCK34
WHIZZINGS34
WHIZZIEST33
WHIZZING33
WHIZZY33
WELTSCHMERZES32
WHILLYWHAWING32
WHIZZED32
WHIZZERS32
WHIZZIER32
WAPPENSCHAWINGS31
WHILLYWHAWED31
WHIZZER31
WHIZZES31
WAPPENSCHAWING30
WEATHERIZATIONS30
WELTSCHMERZ30
WHATCHAMACALLIT30
WHIPJACKS30
WHIZZO30
WUZZLING30
WAZZING29
WEATHERCOCKING29
WEATHERIZATION29
WHEEZINGLY29
WHILLYWHAWS29
WHIPJACK29
WHIPPERSNAPPERS29
WHIZZ29
WUZZLED29
WAPPENSHAWINGS28
WAZZED28
WEATHERCOCKED28
WEATHERIZING28
WHILLYWHAING28
WHILLYWHAW28
WHIPPERSNAPPER28
WHISKEYFIED28
WICKETKEEPERS28
WINDJAMMINGS28
WIZZENS28
WUZZLES28
WAFFLESTOMPERS27
WALKINGSTICKS27
WAPPENSCHAWS27
WAPPENSHAWING27
WATCHBOXES27
WATCHMAKINGS27
WATERQUAKES27
WAXWORKERS27
WAZZES27
WEATHERIZED27
WEATHERPROOFING27
WESTERNIZATIONS27
WHEEZINESSES27
WHILLYWHAED27
WHIPSTITCHING27
WHISTLEBLOWINGS27
WHIZBANGS27
WHOLEHEARTEDLY27
WICKERWORKS27
WICKETKEEPER27
WINDJAMMING27
WIZZEN27
WIZZES27
WOODBURYTYPES27
WORKSHOPPING27
WORKWATCHERS27
WUZZLE27
WAFFLESTOMPER26
WALKINGSTICK26
WAPPENSCHAW26
WATCHMAKING26
WATERQUAKE26
WAXFLOWERS26
WAXWORKER26
WAYZGOOSES26
WEAPONIZING26
WEATHERCOCKS26
WEATHERIZES26
WEATHERPROOFED26
WEBLIOGRAPHY26
WESTERNIZATION26
WHEELBARROWING26
WHEEZILY26
WHIMPERINGLY26
WHIPCRACKS26
WHIPPOORWILLS26
WHIPSTITCHED26
WHISTLEBLOWING26
WHITEWASHINGS26
WHIZBANG26
WICKERWORK26
WINDJAMMERS26
WINTERIZATIONS26
WOMANIZINGS26
WOODBURYTYPE26
WORKMANSHIPS26
WORKSHOPPED26
WORKWATCHER26
WORSHIPFULLY26
WORTHWHILENESS26
WRECKFISHES26
WALTZLIKE25
WARCHALKINGS25
WARRANTIZING25
WATCHBOX25
WATCHDOGGINGS25
WATCHFULNESSES25
WATCHMAKERS25
WAXFLOWER25
WAXWORKS25
WAYZGOOSE25
WAZZ25
WEAPONIZED25
WEATHERABILITY25
WEATHERBOARDING25
WEATHERCOCK25
WEATHERIZE25
WEBLIOGRAPHIES25
WEIGHTLIFTINGS25
WESTERNIZING25
WHAIZLING25
WHEELBARROWED25
WHEELWRIGHTS25
WHEEZINESS25
WHEEZINGS25
WHEEZLING25
WHENCEFORTH25
WHERETHROUGH25
WHEYISHNESSES25
WHICHSOEVER25
WHILLYWHAS25
WHIMSICALITY25
WHIMSICALNESSES25
WHIPCRACK25
WHIPPOORWILL25
WHIPSTITCHES25
WHISKERANDOED25
WHITEBOYISMS25
WHITEWASHING25
WHITHERSOEVER25
WHITHERWARDS25
WIDECHAPPED25
WINDJAMMER25
WINTERIZATION25
WISHTONWISHES25
WITHDRAWMENTS25
WITHDRAWNNESSES25
WITHHOLDMENTS25
WOMANIZING25
WOODCHOPPERS25
WOODCHUCKS25
WOOLLYBACKS25
WORKBENCHES25
WORKBOXES25
WORKINGWOMAN25
WORKINGWOMEN25
WORKMANSHIP25
WORSHIPFULNESS25
WRONGHEADEDLY25
WAKEBOARDINGS24
WANTONIZING24
WAPENSCHAWS24
WAPINSCHAWS24
WAPPENSHAWS24
WARCHALKING24
WARMHEARTEDNESS24
WARRANTIZED24
WATCHDOGGING24
WATCHFULLY24
WATCHMAKER24
WAXCLOTHS24
WAXWORK24
WEAPONIZES24
WEATHERBOARDED24
WEATHERCLOTHS24
WEATHERPROOFS24
WEIGHTLIFTING24
WELTANSCHAUUNGS24
WESTERNIZED24
WHAIZLED24
WHAKAPAPAS24
WHALEBACKS24
WHATSHERNAMES24
WHATSHISNAMES24
WHEELWRIGHT24
WHEEZIEST24
WHEEZING24
WHEEZLED24
WHEEZY24
WHEREWITHALS24
WHEYFACED24
WHIFFLERY24
WHIFFLETREES24
WHILLYWHA24
WHIMSICALITIES24
WHIMSICALLY24
WHIPSTAFFS24
WHIPSTOCKS24
WHISKIFIED24
WHISPERINGLY24
WHITEBOYISM24
WHITEWASHED24
WHITEWASHERS24
WHITEYWOODS24
WHITHERWARD24
WHOLESTITCHES24
WHOREMASTERLY24
WHOREMONGERY24
WINTERIZING24
WISECRACKING24
WITCHCRAFTS24
WITHDRAWABLE24
WITHDRAWMENT24
WITHHOLDMENT24
WIZARDLIEST24
WIZARDLY24
WIZARDRY24
WOADWAXENS24
WOMANIZED24
WOMANIZERS24
WOODCHOPPER24
WOODCHUCK24
WOODCRAFTSMAN24
WOODCRAFTSMEN24
WOODWAXENS24
WOODWORKINGS24
WOOLLYBACK24
WORCESTERBERRY24
WORDSMITHERY24
WORKAHOLISMS24
WORKBASKETS24
WORKFELLOWS24
WORKMANLIKE24
WRECKFISH24
WRONGHEADEDNESS24
WAGONWRIGHTS23
WAKEBOARDING23
WAKEFULNESSES23
WAMPUMPEAGS23
WANTONIZED23
WAPENSCHAW23
WAPINSCHAW23
WAPPENSHAW23
WARCHALKERS23
WARRANTIZES23
WATCHDOGGED23
WATCHFULNESS23
WATCHSPRINGS23
WATERFOWLINGS23
WATERMANSHIPS23
WATERPROOFINGS23
WAXBERRY23
WAXCLOTH23
WAXWORMS23
WAYMARKING23
WAYWARDNESSES23
WEAKFISHES23
WEAKISHNESSES23
WEAPONIZE23
WEATHERCLOTH23
WEATHERPROOF23
WEATHERWOMAN23
WEATHERWOMEN23
WEIGHBRIDGES23
WEIGHTLIFTERS23
WELTANSCHAUUNG23
WELTERWEIGHTS23
WELWITSCHIAS23
WEREWOLFERY23
WEREWOLFISH23
WEREWOLFISMS23
WESTERNIZES23
WHAIZLES23
WHAKAPAPA23
WHALEBACK23
WHARFMASTERS23
WHATABOUTERY23
WHATABOUTISMS23
WHATSHERNAME23
WHATSHISNAME23
WHEELBARROWS23
WHEELWORKS23
WHEEZED23
WHEEZERS23
WHEEZIER23
WHEEZLES23
WHENCESOEVER23
WHEREWITHAL23
WHEYFACES23
WHEYISHNESS23
WHICHEVER23
WHICKERING23
WHIFFLERIES23
WHIFFLETREE23
WHIFFLINGS23
WHIGMALEERY23
WHIMSICALNESS23
WHIPCORDIEST23
WHIPCORDY23
WHIPLASHING23
WHIPSTAFF23
WHIPSTITCH23
WHIPSTOCK23
WHIRLYBIRDS23
WHISKERANDOS23
WHISPEROUSLY23
WHITEFISHES23
WHITEWASHER23
WHITEWASHES23
WHITEYWOOD23
WHITTERICKS23
WHOLESOMENESSES23
WHOREMASTERY23
WHOREMISTRESSES23
WHOREMONGERIES23
WHORTLEBERRY23
WICKTHINGS23
WIDOWERHOODS23
WILDFOWLINGS23
WILLIEWAUGHTS23
WIMPISHNESSES23
WINTERIZED23
WIREWORKINGS23
WISECRACKED23
WISECRACKERS23
WISHTONWISH23
WITCHBROOMS23
WITCHCRAFT23
WITHDRAWNNESS23
WITHYWINDS23
WIZARDLIER23
WIZARDRIES23
WOADWAXEN23
WOADWAXES23
WOMANIZER23
WOMANIZES23
WONDERMONGERING23
WOODPECKERS23
WOODSHEDDINGS23
WOODSHOCKS23
WOODWAXEN23
WOODWAXES23
WOODWORKING23
WOOZINESSES23
WORDSMITHERIES23
WORKABILITY23
WORKABLENESSES23
WORKAHOLICS23
WORKAHOLISM23
WORKBASKET23
WORKBENCH23
WORKBOX23
WORKFELLOW23
WORKFOLKS23
WORKMISTRESSES23
WORKWEEKS23
WRATHFULNESSES23
WRECKMASTERS23
WRENCHINGLY23
WRETCHEDNESSES23
WRISTWATCHES23
WAGEWORKERS22
WAGONWRIGHT22
WAKEBOARDED22
WAKEBOARDERS22
WAKEFULLY22
WALKAWAYS22
WALLCOVERINGS22
WALTZINGS22
WAMPUMPEAG22
WANCHANCY22
WANTONIZES22
WARCHALKER22
WARRANTABILITY22
WARRANTIZE22
WASHABILITY22
WASHERWOMAN22
WASHERWOMEN22
WATCHSPRING22
WATCHTOWERS22
WATCHWORDS22
WATERFLOODINGS22
WATERFOWLING22
WATERMANSHIP22
WATERMARKING22
WATERPOXES22
WATERPROOFING22
WATERPROOFNESS22
WATERTHRUSHES22
WATERZOOIS22
WAXBERRIES22
WAXWEEDS22
WAXWINGS22
WAXWORM22
WAYBACKS22
WAYMARKED22
WAYWARDLY22
WEAKHEARTED22
WEAKISHLY22
WEATHERBOARDS22
WEATHERCASTERS22
WEATHEROMETERS22
WEATHERPERSONS22
WEAZENING22
WEBCHATTING22
WEBZINES22
WEIGHBRIDGE22
WEIGHTLESSLY22
WEIGHTLIFTER22
WELCOMINGLY22
WELTERWEIGHT22
WELWITSCHIA22
WEREWOLFERIES22
WEREWOLFISM22
WERWOLFISH22
WESTERNIZE22
WHACKINGS22
WHAIZLE22
WHARFMASTER22
WHATABOUTERIES22
WHATABOUTISM22
WHATSOMEVER22
WHEEDLINGLY22
WHEELBARROW22
WHEELCHAIRS22
WHEELWORK22
WHEEZER22
WHEEZES22
WHEEZLE22
WHEREINSOEVER22
WHEREWITHS22
WHEYFACE22
WHICKERED22
WHIFFINGS22
WHIFFLING22
WHIGMALEERIES22
WHIMBERRY22
WHIMPERINGS22
WHINGEINGLY22
WHIPCORDIER22
WHIPLASHED22
WHIPPETINGS22
WHIPPINESSES22
WHIPPLETREES22
WHIPSAWING22
WHIPSNAKES22
WHIPWORMS22
WHIRLYBIRD22
WHISKERANDO22
WHITECOMBS22
WHITESMITHS22
WHITISHNESSES22
WHITTERICK22
WHOLEHEARTED22
WHOLESOMELY22
WHOLESTITCH22
WHOLEWHEAT22
WHOREMASTERIES22
WHORISHNESSES22
WHORTLEBERRIES22
WICKEDNESSES22
WICKTHING22
WICKYUPS22
WIDOWERHOOD22
WIDTHWAYS22
WILDFOWLING22
WILLIEWAUGHT22
WILLOWHERBS22
WIMPISHLY22
WINDBAGGERY22
WINDBREAKERS22
WINDPROOFING22
WINEBIBBINGS22
WINTERIZES22
WINTERKILLINGS22
WINTERWEIGHT22
WIREWORKING22
WISECRACKER22
WISHFULNESSES22
WITCHBROOM22
WITCHHOODS22
WITCHINGLY22
WITCHKNOTS22
WITCHWEEDS22
WITHDRAWING22
WITHHOLDING22
WITHYWIND22
WIZARDEST22
WOLFFISHES22
WOLFISHNESSES22
WOMANISHNESSES22
WOMANIZE22
WOMENFOLKS22
WONDERFULNESSES22

Frequently Asked Questions

How many W-initial words are in the dictionary?

Our dictionary lists 5,908 English words beginning with W. That is roughly 1.6% of all the words in our dictionary. W is the 18th most common letter in English (about 2.4% of written text).

Which W-initial word has the highest Scrabble value?

At 38 points, WHIZZINGLY leads the W-starting list in Scrabble scoring. Premium squares can multiply this further; the W tile alone is worth 4 points.

What's a 2-letter word that starts with W?

The shortest we show is WE at just 2 letters. In Scrabble, short W-words are dump plays: you clear a tile onto a premium square, collect the bonus, and keep your rack flexible.