860 words fit with S in the middle, which is more room than a green square usually leaves. AISLE, ARSON, BASAL come first, and 74 can still be the answer, shown in green.
Everyday English accounts for 38 of these 860 words. The rest are worth reading before you need them.
Best First Guesses
With 860 words to get through, the first guess decides most of the round. Each one below is on this list, so it could be the answer outright, and the number beside it is how many words would still be left in the worst case.
- OASIS: takes 860 down to 142 at worst.
- PASTE: down to 155. It is on the answer list.
- BASES: down to 165.
What These Words Have in Common
The last square lands on S more than any other letter: 191 words, about a quarter of the set. The company these words keep: E (376), A (339) and I (242). 38 words out of 860 would pass unnoticed in conversation. That thin share is why the letter counts above matter more here than the list itself.
Best 5 Letter Words With S in the Middle
The strongest picks, with answer-list words first.
- AISLE
- ARSON
- BASAL
- BASIC
- BASIL
- BASIN
- BASIS
- BASTE
- BESET
- BISON
- BOSOM
- BOSSY
- BUSED
- BUSHY
- CASTE
- DISCO
- DUSKY
- DUSTY
- EASEL
- ENSUE
- ESSAY
- FISHY
- FUSSY
- GUSTO
- GUSTY
- HASTE
- HASTY
- HUSKY
- HUSSY
- ISSUE
- LOSER
- LUSTY
- MASON
- MISER
- MISSY
- MOSSY
- MUSHY
- MUSIC
- MUSKY
- MUSTY
- NASAL
- NASTY
- NOSEY
- ONSET
- PASTA
- PASTE
- PASTY
- PESKY
- PESTO
- POSER
- POSIT
- POSSE
- PUSHY
- RASPY
- RESET
- RESIN
- RISEN
- RISER
- RISKY
- RUSTY
- SISSY
- SUSHI
- TASTE
- TASTY
- TESTY
- UNSET
- UPSET
- VISIT
- VISOR
- VISTA
- WASTE
- WISER
- WISPY
- ZESTY
- BASED
- BASES
- BUSES
- CASES
- CISCO
- COSTA
- COSTS
- DISCS
- DISKS
- HOSTS
- JESSE
- JESUS
- LASER
- LISTS
- MOSES
- OASIS
- POSTS
- RISKS
- ROSES
- TASKS
- TESTS
5 Letter Words With S in the Middle by Starting Letter
5 Letter Words Starting with A with S as the 3rd Letter
- AISLE
- ARSON
- ABSEE
- ABSEY
- ABSIS
- ABSIT
- ABSTR
- ADSUM
- AESIR
- AESOP
- AGSAM
- AHSAN
- AKSED
- AKSES
- AMSEL
- ANSAE
- ANSAR
- ANSAS
- ANSEL
- ANSER
- APSES
- APSID
- APSIS
- APSOS
- ARSED
- ARSES
- ARSEY
- ARSIS
- ARSLE
- ARSYL
- ASSAI
- ASSAM
- ASSAY
- ASSED
- ASSES
- ASSET
- ASSEZ
- ASSIS
- ASSOC
- ASSOT
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with A
5 Letter Words Starting with B with S as the 3rd Letter
- BASAL
- BASIC
- BASIL
- BASIN
- BASIS
- BASTE
- BESET
- BISON
- BOSOM
- BOSSY
- BUSED
- BUSHY
- BASED
- BASES
- BUSES
- BASAD
- BASAN
- BASAS
- BASAT
- BASEN
- BASER
- BASHA
- BASHO
- BASIJ
- BASKE
- BASKS
- BASON
- BASOS
- BASSA
- BASSE
- BASSI
- BASSO
- BASSY
- BASTA
- BASTI
- BASTO
- BASTS
- BASYL
- BESAN
- BESAT
- BESAW
- BESEE
- BESES
- BESEW
- BESIN
- BESIT
- BESOM
- BESOT
- BESPY
- BESRA
- BESSI
- BESSY
- BESTI
- BESTS
- BISES
- BISET
- BISIE
- BISKS
- BISME
- BISOM
- BISSO
- BISTI
- BOSCH
- BOSER
- BOSEY
- BOSIE
- BOSKS
- BOSKY
- BOSON
- BOSSA
- BOSUN
- BUSBY
- BUSHI
- BUSKS
- BUSKY
- BUSSU
- BUSSY
- BUSTI
- BUSTO
- BUSTS
- BUSTY
- BYSEN
- BYSSI
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with B
5 Letter Words Starting with C with S as the 3rd Letter
- CASTE
- CASES
- CISCO
- COSTA
- COSTS
- CASAL
- CASAS
- CASCO
- CASED
- CASEL
- CASER
- CASEY
- CASHA
- CASKS
- CASKY
- CASSE
- CASSY
- CASTS
- CASUS
- CESAR
- CESSE
- CESTA
- CESTE
- CESTI
- CISSY
- CISTA
- CISTS
- COSEC
- COSED
- COSEN
- COSES
- COSET
- COSEY
- COSIE
- COSIN
- COSMO
- COSSE
- COSTE
- CUSEC
- CUSHY
- CUSIE
- CUSKS
- CUSPS
- CUSPY
- CUSSO
- CUSUM
- CYSTS
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with C
5 Letter Words Starting with D with S as the 3rd Letter
- DISCO
- DUSKY
- DUSTY
- DISCS
- DISKS
- DASHI
- DASHT
- DASHY
- DASNT
- DASSY
- DASYA
- DESEX
- DESHI
- DESIS
- DESKS
- DESMA
- DESSA
- DESSE
- DESTO
- DESYL
- DISAS
- DISCI
- DISHY
- DISLI
- DISME
- DISNA
- DISTN
- DISTR
- DISTY
- DOSAI
- DOSAS
- DOSED
- DOSEH
- DOSER
- DOSES
- DOSHA
- DOSIS
- DOSSY
- DTSET
- DUSIO
- DUSKS
- DUSTS
- DUSUN
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with D
5 Letter Words Starting with E with S as the 3rd Letter
- EASEL
- ENSUE
- ESSAY
- EASED
- EASER
- EASES
- EASLE
- EASTS
- EISEL
- ELSES
- ELSIN
- ENSEW
- ENSKY
- EOSIN
- EPSOM
- ERSAR
- ERSES
- ESSED
- ESSEE
- ESSES
- ESSEX
- ESSIE
- EUSOL
- EXSEC
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with E
5 Letter Words Starting with F with S as the 3rd Letter
- FISHY
- FUSSY
- FASCI
- FASTI
- FASTS
- FESSE
- FESTA
- FESTE
- FESTS
- FESTY
- FISCS
- FISHO
- FISKS
- FISTS
- FISTY
- FOSIE
- FOSSA
- FOSSE
- FPSPS
- FUSED
- FUSEE
- FUSEL
- FUSES
- FUSHT
- FUSIL
- FUSKS
- FUSTS
- FUSTY
- FUSUS
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with F
5 Letter Words Starting with G with S as the 3rd Letter
- GUSTO
- GUSTY
- GASAN
- GASES
- GASHY
- GASPS
- GASPY
- GASSY
- GASTS
- GESAN
- GESSE
- GESSO
- GESTE
- GESTS
- GISEL
- GISLA
- GISMO
- GISMS
- GISTS
- GOSHT
- GOSSE
- GOSSY
- GUSER
- GUSHY
- GUSLA
- GUSLE
- GUSLI
- GUSSY
- GUSTS
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with G
5 Letter Words Starting with H with S as the 3rd Letter
- HASTE
- HASTY
- HUSKY
- HUSSY
- HOSTS
- HASAN
- HASHT
- HASHY
- HASID
- HASKS
- HASKY
- HASNT
- HASPS
- HASTA
- HESPS
- HESTS
- HISIS
- HISPA
- HISSY
- HISTS
- HOSEA
- HOSED
- HOSEL
- HOSEN
- HOSER
- HOSES
- HOSEY
- HOSTA
- HUSHO
- HUSHT
- HUSHY
- HUSKS
- HUSOS
- HYSON
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with H
5 Letter Words Starting with I with S as the 3rd Letter
- ISSUE
- IMSHI
- IMSHY
- INSEA
- INSEE
- INSEP
- INSET
- INSOL
- INSPO
- INSTR
- INSUE
- ISSEI
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with I
5 Letter Words Starting with J with S as the 3rd Letter
- JESSE
- JESUS
- JASEY
- JASON
- JASPE
- JASPS
- JESSY
- JESTS
- JISMS
- JOSEY
- JOSHI
- JOSIE
- JOSIP
- JUSSI
- JUSTE
- JUSTO
- JUSTS
5 Letter Words Starting with K with S as the 3rd Letter
- KASER
- KASHA
- KASHI
- KASKA
- KASME
- KASSU
- KESAR
- KESSE
- KESTS
- KISAN
- KISHY
- KISRA
- KISSY
- KISTS
- KISWA
- KOSES
- KOSHA
- KOSIN
- KOSOS
- KUSAM
- KUSAN
- KUSHA
- KUSSO
- KUSTI
- KUSUM
5 Letter Words Starting with L with S as the 3rd Letter
- LOSER
- LUSTY
- LASER
- LISTS
- LASED
- LASES
- LASSI
- LASSO
- LASSU
- LASSY
- LASTS
- LASTY
- LESBO
- LESED
- LESES
- LESGH
- LESIY
- LESOS
- LESSN
- LESTE
- LESTS
- LESYA
- LISES
- LISKS
- LISLE
- LISPS
- LISTY
- LISZT
- LOSED
- LOSEL
- LOSEN
- LOSES
- LOSSY
- LUSER
- LUSHY
- LUSKS
- LUSKY
- LUSTS
- LUSUS
- LYSED
- LYSES
- LYSIN
- LYSIS
- LYSOL
- LYSSA
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with L
5 Letter Words Starting with M with S as the 3rd Letter
- MASON
- MISER
- MISSY
- MOSSY
- MUSHY
- MUSIC
- MUSKY
- MUSTY
- MOSES
- MASAI
- MASAS
- MASED
- MASER
- MASES
- MASHA
- MASHY
- MASKS
- MASSA
- MASSE
- MASSY
- MASTS
- MASTY
- MASUR
- MASUS
- MASUT
- MESAD
- MESAL
- MESAS
- MESCA
- MESEL
- MESEM
- MESES
- MESHY
- MESIA
- MESIC
- MESNE
- MESON
- MESSE
- MESSY
- MESTO
- MESUA
- MESYL
- MISAL
- MISCE
- MISCH
- MISDO
- MISES
- MISGO
- MISKY
- MISLS
- MISLY
- MISOS
- MISSA
- MISTO
- MISTS
- MISTY
- MOSAN
- MOSED
- MOSEL
- MOSEY
- MOSGU
- MOSKS
- MOSSI
- MOSSO
- MOSTE
- MOSTO
- MOSTS
- MOSUL
- MOSUR
- MUSAL
- MUSAR
- MUSCA
- MUSCI
- MUSED
- MUSEE
- MUSER
- MUSES
- MUSET
- MUSGU
- MUSHA
- MUSIE
- MUSIT
- MUSKS
- MUSOS
- MUSSE
- MUSSY
- MUSTA
- MUSTH
- MUSTS
- MYSEL
- MYSID
- MYSIE
- MYSIS
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with M
5 Letter Words Starting with N with S as the 3rd Letter
- NASAL
- NASTY
- NOSEY
- NASAB
- NASAT
- NASCH
- NASHI
- NASHO
- NASIS
- NASON
- NASSA
- NASUA
- NASUS
- NESKI
- NESTS
- NESTY
- NISAN
- NISEI
- NISIN
- NISSE
- NISUS
- NOSED
- NOSER
- NOSES
- NOSHI
- NOSIG
- NOSIR
- NUSED
- NUSES
- NYSSA
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with N
5 Letter Words Starting with O with S as the 3rd Letter
- ONSET
- OASIS
- OASAL
- OASES
- OASTS
- ODSOS
- OISIN
- OLSON
- ONSEN
- OOSES
- OPSAT
- OPSIN
- OPSIT
- ORSEL
- ORSON
- OSSAL
- OSSEA
- OSSET
- OSSIA
- OUSEL
- OUSIA
- OUSTS
- OWSEN
- OWSER
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with O
5 Letter Words Starting with P with S as the 3rd Letter
- PASTA
- PASTE
- PASTY
- PESKY
- PESTO
- POSER
- POSIT
- POSSE
- PUSHY
- POSTS
- PASAG
- PASAN
- PASAR
- PASCH
- PASEO
- PASES
- PASHA
- PASHM
- PASIS
- PASKA
- PASMO
- PASPY
- PASSE
- PASSO
- PASSU
- PASTS
- PASUL
- PESAH
- PESCH
- PESOS
- PESTA
- PESTE
- PESTS
- PESTY
- PISAN
- PISAY
- PISCO
- PISES
- PISHU
- PISKY
- PISOS
- PISSY
- PISTE
- PISUM
- POSCA
- POSED
- POSES
- POSET
- POSEY
- POSHO
- POSOL
- POSSY
- POSTE
- PUSES
- PUSLE
- PUSSY
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with P
5 Letter Words Starting with R with S as the 3rd Letter
- RASPY
- RESET
- RESIN
- RISEN
- RISER
- RISKY
- RUSTY
- RISKS
- ROSES
- RASAM
- RASAS
- RASED
- RASEN
- RASER
- RASES
- RASON
- RASPS
- RASSE
- RASTA
- RASTY
- RESAM
- RESAT
- RESAW
- RESAY
- RESEE
- RESES
- RESEW
- RESEX
- RESID
- RESIT
- RESOD
- RESOL
- RESOW
- RESTO
- RESTR
- RESTS
- RESTY
- RESUE
- RESUN
- RESUP
- RESUS
- RISES
- RISHI
- RISPS
- RISQU
- RISTS
- RISUS
- ROSAL
- ROSCO
- ROSED
- ROSEL
- ROSET
- ROSHA
- ROSHI
- ROSIN
- ROSIT
- ROSPS
- ROSSA
- ROSSO
- ROSTI
- ROSTS
- RUSAS
- RUSES
- RUSHY
- RUSIN
- RUSKS
- RUSKY
- RUSMA
- RUSOT
- RUSSE
- RUSTS
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with R
5 Letter Words Starting with S with S as the 3rd Letter
- SISSY
- SUSHI
- SASAN
- SASER
- SASIN
- SASSE
- SASSY
- SESEY
- SESIA
- SESMA
- SESSA
- SESTI
- SISAL
- SISEL
- SISES
- SISSU
- SISTA
- SISTS
- SOSIA
- SOSIE
- SRSLY
- SUSAN
- SUSED
- SUSES
- SUSIE
- SUSSO
- SUSSY
- SUSUS
- SYSIN
- SYSOP
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with S
5 Letter Words Starting with T with S as the 3rd Letter
- TASTE
- TASTY
- TESTY
- TASKS
- TESTS
- TASAR
- TASCA
- TASCO
- TASED
- TASER
- TASES
- TASSA
- TASSE
- TASSO
- TASTO
- TESLA
- TESTA
- TESTE
- TISAR
- TISIC
- TISSU
- TOSAS
- TOSCA
- TOSED
- TOSES
- TOSHY
- TOSSY
- TOSYL
- TUSHS
- TUSHY
- TUSKS
- TUSKY
- TYSTE
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with T
5 Letter Words Starting with U with S as the 3rd Letter
- UNSET
- UPSET
- UMSET
- UNSAD
- UNSAW
- UNSAY
- UNSEE
- UNSEW
- UNSEX
- UNSHY
- UNSIN
- UNSLY
- UNSOD
- UNSON
- UNSTY
- UNSUB
- UNSUN
- UPSEE
- UPSEY
- UPSIT
- UPSUN
- UPSUP
- URSAE
- URSAL
- URSID
- URSON
- URSUK
- URSUS
- UTSUK
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with U
5 Letter Words Starting with V with S as the 3rd Letter
- VISIT
- VISOR
- VISTA
- VASAL
- VASES
- VASTS
- VASTY
- VESPA
- VESTA
- VESTS
- VISAS
- VISED
- VISES
- VISIE
- VISNA
- VISNE
- VISON
- VISTO
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with V
5 Letter Words Starting with W with S as the 3rd Letter
- WASTE
- WISER
- WISPY
- WASAT
- WASCO
- WASEL
- WASES
- WASHI
- WASHO
- WASHY
- WASIR
- WASMS
- WASNT
- WASPS
- WASPY
- WASTS
- WASTY
- WESTE
- WESTS
- WESTY
- WHSLE
- WISED
- WISEN
- WISES
- WISHA
- WISHT
- WISHY
- WISPS
- WISSE
- WISTE
- WISTS
- WUSES
- WUSHU
- WUSSY
- WYSON
- WYSTY
Related: 5 Letter Words Starting with W
5 Letter Words Starting with X, Y or Z with S as the 3rd Letter
- XYSTI
- XYSTS
- YASHT
- YASNA
- YESES
- YESKS
- YESSO
- YESTS
- YESTY
- ZESTY
- ZESTS
- ZOSMA
Less Familiar Words Here
This page carries a lot of words most players would not define. Reading them once is quicker than meeting them cold in a puzzle.
- UNSEX: Make infertile.
- GISMO: A device or control that is very useful for a particular job.
- MUSER: A reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation.
- BOSKY: Covered with or consisting of bushes or thickets; ; ; – Jack Beatty.
- TASSE: One of two pieces of armor plate hanging from the fauld to protect the upper thighs.
- FUSEE: A colored flare used as a warning signal by trucks and trains.
- RUSHY: Abounding in rushes.
- BESOM: A broom made of twigs tied together on a long handle.
- RESID: Oil products that remain after petroleum has been distilled.
- UNSAY: Take back what one has said.
- HYSON: A Chinese green tea with twisted leaves.
- FUSIL: A light flintlock musket.
- MUSSY: Dirty and disorderly.
- OPSIN: Retinal protein formed by the action of light on rhodopsin.
- BOSIE: A cricket ball bowled as if to break one way that actually breaks in the opposite way.
- FUSTY: Stale and unclean smelling.
- NISUS: An effortful attempt to attain a goal.
- BOSUN: A petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen.
FAQs
Can a Wordle answer have S in the middle?
Yes. MUSIC, ISSUE and VISIT all sit on the Wordle answer list, so the pattern is worth playing for rather than ruling out.
Do any of these use the same letter twice?
Yes. ISSUE and CASES are two of them. Crossing off a letter after one grey square is the quickest way to miss an answer like these.
Is BESOT really a word?
Yes. Make dull or stupid or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation. It is not on the Wordle answer list, so keep it for Scrabble.
Which one has the best chance of just being the answer?
MUSIC. It is the most ordinary word here that the answer list carries, so it is the guess to make when you want to win the round rather than learn from it.
Are all of these accepted as guesses?
Yes. Every word on this list is a legal guess, including the ones that look wrong. ZOSMA and ZESTS are among them. Only a smaller set sits on the answer list, and those are the ones marked in green.
Which of these would most players overlook?
BASTE, BUSED and GUSTY. All three are on the answer list, and none is a word you would reach for early, so they are worth remembering once the obvious guesses run out.
Part of: 5 Letter Words