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Is DESPERATELY a valid Scrabble word?

Yes, DESPERATELY is a valid word in US Scrabble and UK Scrabble, worth 17 points.

Base score before bonus squares; blank tiles score zero.

What does DESPERATELY mean?

  1. adverb

    with great urgency

    “health care reform is needed urgently”

  2. adverb

    in intense despair

    “the child clung desperately to her mother”

Definitions from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University.

Points

17

Scrabble

18

Words With Friends

11

Letters

D (2) + E (1) + S (1) + P (3) + E (1) + R (1) + A (1) + T (1) + E (1) + L (1) + Y (4) = 17 points in Scrabble.

Dictionary status

  • Scrabble (US & Canada)Valid
  • Scrabble (UK & worldwide)Valid
  • Words With FriendsListed

Scrabble lists: NWL2023 (US & Canada) and CSW24 (UK & worldwide). WWF uses our ENABLE reference plus verified additions. “Listed” and “Not listed” describe that reference; check acceptance in the game. Sources reviewed 2026-10-03.

Hooks for DESPERATELY

DESPERATELY has no one-letter front or back hooks in US Scrabble. Adding a single letter to either end does not make another word in that list.

Front hooks0

None — nothing can be added to the front.

Back hooks0

None — nothing can be added to the end.

Words you can make from DESPERATELY

The 60 highest-scoring words using these letters.

Study DESPERATELY and related words

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