The letter Z is the wild child of the alphabet, the last hurrah, the zip at the end of your ABCs. In the world of word games, Z-words may also be a secret weapon. Whether you’re trying to impress your opponents or sharpen your vocabulary, this list of words starting with the letter Z will add zing to your gameplay.
We’ve picked these based on their ability to rack up points in games like Last Letter First, and because we just like the way they sound. Since we always want to learn more, we’ve added their definitions and an example sentence. Let’s get ready to zest up your vocabulary with Last Letter First.
Putting the “Z” in Your Words
- Zigzagged – 31 points – Definition: Moved in a pattern with sharp turns in alternating directions. Example: “The rabbit zigzagged across the garden like it was looking for the best lettuce.”
- Zombifying – 30 points – Definition: Turning something or someone into a zombie or something zombie-like. Example: “That endless training video was zombifying — no one could stay awake through the whole thing.”
- Zincograph – 27 points – Definition: A printing process using zinc plates. Example: “The artist used a zincograph to produce clean, precise images for his vintage-style poster collection.”
- Zymurgies – 24 points – Definition: Plural of zymurgy, the branch of applied chemistry dealing with fermentation, as in brewing. Example: “He studied zymurgies to improve his homebrewing skills.”
- Zephyr – 23 points – Definition: A gentle breeze. Example: “A warm zephyr drifted through the open window, carrying the scent of the ocean.”
- Zucchini – 23 points – Definition: A long, green vegetable that is a type of summer squash. Example: “She sauteed the zucchini for a healthy side dish.”
- Zeitgeist – 23 points – Definition: The defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history. Example: “Minimalist fashion and analog photography captured the zeitgeist of the early 2010s.”
- Zither – 21 points – Definition: A musical instrument with strings stretched across a flat body, played by strumming or plucking. Example: “The musician’s fingers danced across the zither, filling the room with delicate notes.”
- Ziggurat – 21 points – Definition: A rectangular stepped tower, sometimes surmounted by a temple, used in ancient Mesopotamia. Example: “The ancient ziggurat, rising layer by layer toward the sky, once served as a temple to the gods.”
- Zanyism – 21 points – Definition: The practice or quality of being zany. Example: “His zanyism, dancing in the office while wearing mismatched socks, kept team morale high.”
- Zodiac – 18 points – Definition: A system of twelve signs based on the positions of the stars, traditionally used in astrology. Example: “He checked his zodiac sign before every major decision—even ordering tacos.”
How to Maximize Your Score in Last Letter First
Becoming familiar with how scoring works in Last Letter First is important to master the game. Each letter carries a specific point value based on how common it is in everyday English. That’s why high-frequency letters like “A” are only worth 1 point, while rare gems like “Z” are worth a whopping 10.
To figure out how many points a word is worth, just add up the point value of each letter in the word. You can keep the scoring table handy and tally things up manually, or let the game do the math for you. When you start typing a word into the text box, Last Letter First automatically calculates the total points for you. If the score looks good, hit enter and play it! If not, keep brainstorming. A higher-scoring combo may be waiting to be discovered.
You can play solo or go head-to-head with friends. You can even challenge yourself to pick words not just for length, but for letter value. A short word like “zinc” can outscore a longer word like “letter,” all thanks to that “Z.”
Z: The Most Underrated Power Letter?
In word games, Z is often a high-value letter because it’s not as commonly used. That’s why it can lead to high scores and unexpected twists in a game of Last Letter First. If you’re looking to up your game, learning fun and practical Z-words is a smart move.
Looking for even more Z-word action? Check out this complete Z-word list on Dictionary.com. You can also dive into word origin and definitions at Merriam-Webster, which is a great resource for language lovers and word nerds alike.
Zip Over and Add Last Letter First to your Daily Gaming Routine
Adding more Z-words to your mental dictionary is a smart (and fun!) strategy. Not only are they great for showing off your knowledge, but they also give you an edge in games that reward vocabulary depth, especially Last Letter First. Sign up and try out your zesty Z-words today!
