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 have been Wordle answers, shown in green.
About 9% (74) have been actual Wordle answers. BASIC is among the most familiar to reach for.
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 has been an answer before.
- BASES: down to 165.
What These Words Have in Common
191 of them end in S, about a quarter of the list. The letters that turn up alongside most often are E (376), A (339) and I (242). Only 38 of the 860 are everyday words. The rest belong to crosswords more than to conversation, so lean on the letters above rather than on the tail of the list.
Best 5 Letter Words With S in the Middle
The strongest picks, with likely Wordle answers 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
5 Letter Words Starting With I With S as the 3rd Letter
- ISSUE
- IMSHI
- IMSHY
- INSEA
- INSEE
- INSEP
- INSET
- INSOL
- INSPO
- INSTR
- INSUE
- ISSEI
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 have all been answers, 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 has never been the puzzle, so keep it for Scrabble.
Which one has the best chance of just being the answer?
MUSIC. It is the most ordinary word on this list that has already been the puzzle, 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 has ever been the answer, and those are the ones marked in green.
Which of these would most players overlook?
BASTE, BUSED and GUSTY. All three have been answers, and none is a word you would reach for early, so they are worth remembering once the obvious guesses run out.