Scrabble can be a ruthless, cutthroat game. Whether you’re playing it with family or friends, coming up with words on the fly — let alone words with specific letters, designed to garner the most points possible — is difficult and can cause a lot of strife at Family Game Night.
One of the most difficult letters to work with in Scrabble is the "z." Worth 10 points, it can be very useful when you land on a triple word score, but difficult to play in the heat of the moment. To help you reign supreme in Scrabble, we’ve put together a batch of words that start with the final letter of the alphabet. (Remember: If you have a small "z" word, sometimes you can make a longer word for more points.) Make sure to learn these and use them wisely to trounce your competition!
Zany
"Kooky," "silly," and "unconventional" are all synonymous with "zany," but they don't have the high-scoring "z." "You're zany if you think that's a real word!"
Also try: zanies, zaniest, zaniness
Zareba
It's an improvised fence, and a skillful word to play on the fly. "We need a zareba to keep the rabbits out of the garden."
Zwieback
Foreign language words don't always count in Scrabble, but this word for a dry, crispy piece of bread is in the official dictionary. "I always like a piece of zwieback along with my soup."
Zeal
Here's a noun that is synonymous with “eagerness.” “His zeal for providing a useful product encouraged 15 people to become new customers.”
Also try: zealous, zealousness, zealotry, zealot, and zealots
Zenith
A zenith is the highest point of something, like a celestial body or a career. “The sun had reached its zenith, and the city was unbearably hot.”
Ziggurat
This Mesopotamian tower structure, often connected to a temple, is possibly connected to the Tower of Babel story. “The ziggurat was at least 40 stories tall and imposing against the sky.”
Zipper
Use this device to fasten fabric together, as on clothing or a bag. “The zipper was stuck, so she returned the dress.”
Also try: zipless, zippered, zippiest, zipping, zipped, and zippy
Zinfandel
This type of wine is often grown in California. Don't drink zinfandel while playing Scrabble, or you may not remember this word. “The house zinfandel was smooth and delicious.”
Zircon
This mineral has been used as a cheaper alternative to a more precious gemstone. It can be found in a variety of different colors. “My ring is actually a zircon, but I feel like it looks just as beautiful as a diamond.”
Zoo
You can visit this place where animals from other regions and countries are housed for both entertainment and research. “Let's go visit the zoo and see the penguins!"
Also try: zoolatry, zoology, zootomy, zoonotic, zoomania
Zither
This stringed musical instrument with strings the same length as its soundboard is mostly Asian in origin. “The sound filled the air as she played the zither skillfully.”
Zucchini
A zucchini is a vegetable, usually long and green, with seeds on the inside. It's used in soups, ratatouille, and stews. “She cut up the zucchini lengthwise and cooked it with pasta to make a light supper.”
Zest
Zest can be energy and enthusiasm, or the outer peel of a citrus fruit. “His zest for life was contagious and inspired smiles everywhere he went.”
Also try: zesty, zester, zestful, zestily, zestiest, and zestfully
Ziplock
"Ziplock" — not to be confused with Ziploc, the brand name of the plastic storage bag — is in the official Scrabble dictionary as a word referring to the tight seal formed from pressing together a groove and a ridge. "The ziplock broke and my sandwich fell out in the bottom of my backpack."
Zillion
Zillion is a number too large to count. "I have about a zillion black sweaters in my closet, but I have to get this one, too."
Also try: zillions, zillionth, and zillionaire
Zooglea
Here's a good one to use up a lot of those vowels on your rack. It means a mass of bacteria in a jellylike material. "Zooglea is kind of gross, but worth a lot of points."