Crossplay Z Words
Board-friendly words containing Z, up to seven letters, searchable and scored. Of the three 10-point tiles, the Z is the one you should be happiest to draw. (6,628 Z words exist in total; these are the ones that fit.)
1,330 of 1,330 words
Tap any word to load it into the solver rack, or check a different word.
The friendliest 10-point tile
There is one Z in the bag, worth 10 — the same as the Q and the J. What separates it is flexibility. ZA gets it down in two tiles. ZAP, ZIP, ZOO, ZED, ADZ, BIZ, FEZ and their relatives cover almost any rack, and the Z works at the front or the back of a word equally well.
Where to put it
- Triple letter square: 30 points from one tile, before anything else the word collects.
- Double letter under a double word: ZA in that shape is 42.
- Parallel to an existing word, so the Z scores in both directions at once — this is where the really big Z turns come from.
Words worth knowing cold
Learn ZA and ZO first, then the three-letter set: ADZ, AZO, BIZ, COZ, FEZ, WIZ, ZAG, ZAP, ZED, ZEE, ZIG, ZIN, ZIP, ZIT, ZOA. Between them there is almost always somewhere to put a Z for double figures.
Related
- J WordsWhere to put the ten-point J.
- X WordsX is the best hook letter in the game.
- Two-Letter WordsThe list that wins the most points per tile.
- Tile ValuesWhat every letter is worth, sortable.
- Crossplay SolverEnter your board and rack, get every legal move ranked by score.
- Strategy GuideTen ideas that add points to every game.
Common questions
Why is the Z easier to play than the Q or J?
It has more short homes. ZA, ZO and their extensions give you a two-tile out almost anywhere, and the Z sits comfortably at the start, middle or end of a word — unlike the Q, which needs specific company.
What is the highest-value simple Z play?
ZA with the Z on a triple letter square is 31 face points from two tiles. Put the A on a double word square as well and you are over 60.
Should I hold the Z for a bigger spot?
One turn, maybe. Not three. Premium squares get covered fast, and a 30-point Z play now generally beats a hypothetical 45-point one that never arrives.