4 Letter Words Containing Z
There are 83 4-letter English words that contain Z, from ADZE to ZYME. Top Scrabble® scorers on this list: JAZZ (29), FUZZ (25), FIZZ (25). Roughly 19% of these words end in E, so an E-hook on the board is worth watching for.
Word list
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Z
- ZAGS14 pts
- ZANY16 pts
- ZAPS15 pts
- ZARF16 pts
- ZEAL13 pts
- ZEBU15 pts
- ZEDS14 pts
- ZEES13 pts
- ZEIN13 pts
- ZEKS17 pts
- ZERK17 pts
- ZERO13 pts
- ZEST13 pts
- ZETA13 pts
- ZIGS14 pts
- ZILL13 pts
- ZINC15 pts
- ZING14 pts
- ZINS13 pts
- ZIPS15 pts
- ZITI13 pts
- ZITS13 pts
- ZOEA13 pts
- ZOIC15 pts
- ZONE13 pts
- ZONK17 pts
- ZOOM15 pts
- ZOON13 pts
- ZOOS13 pts
- ZORI13 pts
- ZYME18 pts
Point values shown are Scrabble® (letters only, before board bonuses). Browse deeper via the word-lists hub.
Top 10 highest-scoring words
Scored on letters only (no board bonuses). WWF uses different tile values from Scrabble — J, Q and Z are worth 10 points in WWF; X is worth 8.
| # | Word | Scrabble | WWF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | jazz | 29 | 31 |
| 2 | fuzz | 25 | 26 |
| 3 | fizz | 25 | 25 |
| 4 | buzz | 24 | 26 |
| 5 | quiz | 22 | 23 |
| 6 | razz | 22 | 22 |
| 7 | jeez | 20 | 22 |
| 8 | fozy | 19 | 18 |
| 9 | whiz | 19 | 18 |
| 10 | hazy | 19 | 17 |
Strategy for this list
The Z is a 10-point tile and, unlike the Q, does not depend on U. The Z-word list is short but includes several very high-scoring plays: ZAX, ZEE, ZEP, ZAG, ZAP, ZIT, ZOO, ZONE, ZERO. The best Z placement is on a triple-letter square in a parallel play — Z(10)×3 = 30 for the Z alone, plus the two-letter crosses (ZA, ZO). The Z can also power a bingo through a stem: SEIZING, ZEALOTS, ZOOMERS. Because valid Z-words are less common than X- or Q-words, players often hold the Z waiting for a specific fit — usually a mistake, since 20 turns of held-Z equity costs more than most sub-optimal Z plays.
FAQs
How many 4-letter words contain Z?
83 valid 4-letter English words contain the letters Z in the ENABLE English word list.
Are these valid in Wordle and Scrabble?
Words on this page come from the ENABLE English word list. UK Scrabble (Collins Scrabble Words) accepts the overwhelming majority; a handful may not be legal in the North American NASPA Word List (NWL2023).