LESS Endings: The Suffix That Takes Things Away
Attach -LESS to almost any noun and you've described its absence. HOME→HOMELESS, HOPE→HOPELESS, TASTE→TASTELESS, REST→RESTLESS, FEAR→FEARLESS. This suffix has been productive since Old English (the word was "leas," meaning "free from"), and it shows no signs of slowing down. New -LESS words form naturally whenever speakers need them — SCREENLESS, DRIVERLESS, PASSWORDLESS have all appeared in recent decades without anyone formally coining them. That productivity means the -LESS family is one of the largest suffix groups in English.
For Scrabble players, -LESS words are long — typically 7 to 10 letters — which puts them squarely in bingo territory. CARELESS, FEARLESS, HARMLESS, NEEDLESS, RECKLESS, BONELESS, CLUELESS: these are all valid 8-letter plays worth 10-12 points base, plus the 50-point bingo bonus if you use all seven tiles. The challenge is holding the right tiles. You need the root word plus L-E-S-S, which means your rack has to cooperate. When it does, it's devastating.
Crossword tip: The clue "without" followed by a noun almost always leads to a -LESS answer. "Without feeling" = NUMB or SENSELESS. "Without purpose" = AIMLESS. "Without end" = ENDLESS. This formula is so consistent that you can solve -LESS answers from just the clue structure. For the opposite suffix (adding rather than removing), see words ending in P for compact alternatives, or explore words starting with V for words like VALUELESS. words ending in L covers the broader L-ending family that -LESS belongs to.
FAQ
Can -LESS attach to any noun?
Nearly. The main exception is nouns that describe inherent properties rather than possessions — you wouldn't say TABLELESS or CHAIRLESS (though technically they're understandable). -LESS works best with abstract nouns (HOPELESS), qualities (TASTELESS), and things people can lack (HOMELESS, JOBLESS). For the related prefix UN- that also negates meaning, explore words ending in C where you'll find words that pair with both UN- and -LESS.
What -LESS words are best for Scrabble bingos?
AIRLESS, ARTLESS, AIMLESS, and ARMLESS are top picks because their root words are just three letters, leaving room on the rack for the four-letter suffix. CARELESS and BONELESS work if you already have part of the root on the board. The 50-point bingo bonus makes any valid 7+ letter -LESS play a game-changer. Check words ending in AX for more compact scoring alternatives.
What's the difference between -LESS and UN-?
Both negate, but -LESS means "without" (HOMELESS = without a home) while UN- means "not" or "opposite" (UNHAPPY = not happy). Some words use both: RESTLESS and UNRESTFUL both exist but carry slightly different shades. -LESS tends to be more absolute. For the UN- prefix family, see words ending in U where prefix-suffix interactions create unusual words.
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