Words Ending in X — 391 Ways to Score Big
The X tile sits in the Scrabble bag worth 8 points, and knowing where to put it at the end of a word is one of the clearest edges you can build. X-ending words tend to come from Latin, where -X was a standard noun ending (APEX, INDEX, CORTEX, LATEX, VERTEX). Many of these words form their plurals by swapping -EX for -ICES (INDEX to INDICES, VERTEX to VERTICES, CORTEX to CORTICES), though the simpler -ES plural is also valid in word games. An underappreciated fact about this group: English has a set of feminine agent nouns ending in -TRIX borrowed from Latin — AVIATRIX, DOMINATRIX, EXECUTRIX, ADMINISTRATRIX. These are among the longest X-ending words in the dictionary and can land on multiple premium squares when the board opens up.
For practical play, the three-letter X-enders are must-know words: BOX, COX, FAX, FIX, FOX, HEX, HOX, KEX, MAX, MIX, PAX, PIX, POX, REX, SAX, SEX, SIX, SOX, TAX, TUX, VEX, VOX, WAX, ZAX. That's two dozen words in just three letters, and every one scores at least 10 points because of the X. WAX on a double-letter square under the X means 22 points for three tiles. In crosswords, the -OX pattern appears everywhere: BOX, FOX, EQUINOX, ORTHODOX, PARADOX. When a clue is vaguely contradictory or ironic, try PARADOX. When it references religion or tradition, try ORTHODOX. Quick tip: if you're holding an X late in a Scrabble game, AX (9 points), EX (9 points), and OX (9 points) are two-letter emergency plays that beat taking the 8-point deduction for an unplayed tile. Explore words ending in Z for the other high-value ending letter, words starting with X for the flip side, and words ending in C for Latin-root words that share vocabulary with X-enders.
FAQ
What two-letter words end in X?
AX, EX, and OX are all valid in Scrabble and Words With Friends, each scoring 9 base points. These are critical endgame plays when you're stuck with an X tile and the board is nearly full. For comparison, the only two-letter word using Z at the start is ZA (11 points) — check words starting with Z for more Z-tile options.
How do X-ending words form plurals?
Most simply add -ES: BOXES, FOXES, TAXES. But Latin-origin words often have a second plural form: INDEX becomes INDICES, APEX becomes APICES, MATRIX becomes MATRICES. Both forms are valid in Scrabble, and the Latin plurals can be useful because they change the ending letter completely. For more on unusual plural patterns, see words ending in I where Latin plurals like CACTI and FUNGI follow the -US to -I pattern.
What's the best X-ending word for Wordle?
Wordle uses five-letter words, so your X-ending options include AFFIX, ADMIX, ANNEX, DETOX, HELIX, INDEX, LATEX, RADIX, RELAX, REMEX, and UNBOX. RELAX is probably the strongest guess because it tests four common consonants alongside the X. But don't start with an X-ending guess — use your first two guesses to test high-frequency letters, then narrow to X if the evidence points that way. For more Wordle strategy, see words starting with S.