258 Words Ending in B — The Overlooked Consonant Ending
Most English speakers can rattle off a dozen words ending in common consonants like T, N, or S without thinking. Ask them for B-enders and they'll stall after CLUB, GRAB, and CLIMB. That's what makes this group valuable in word games — your opponents haven't studied it. The 258 B-ending words split into two camps. First, there are the straightforward ones where you hear the B: CAB, COB, CUB, DAB, DUB, FIB, FOB, GAB, GOB, GUB, HUB, JAB, JIB, JOB, MOB, NAB, NUB, ORB, PUB, RIB, ROB, RUB, SOB, SUB, TAB, TUB, WEB. Second, and more interesting for word nerds, are the words where the final B is silent: BOMB, CLIMB, COMB, CRUMB, DUMB, LAMB, LIMB, NUMB, PLUMB, THUMB, TOMB, WOMB. That silent B exists because English used to pronounce it — say "clim-buh" and you're speaking something close to Old English.
For Scrabble, B is only worth 3 points, but B-ending words compensate with strong combinations. ABSORB (11 points) and SUPERB (10 points) are satisfying plays. APLOMB scores 12 and uses the uncommon PL combination. Short plays like JAB (12 points, thanks to the J), COB, and DAB fit tight spots well. A tip specific to this ending: silent-B words like BOMB and THUMB are crossword favorites because solvers often forget the final B, which makes them tricky clues. If a crossword answer seems to end in M but the crossing letter forces a consonant after it, think silent B. Also explore words ending in F and words ending in W for other mid-frequency consonant endings, plus words starting with J for maximizing that J tile in JAB and JIB.
FAQ
Why is the B silent in words like CLIMB and BOMB?
English used to pronounce every consonant, including the B in CLIMB ("clim-buh") and COMB ("com-buh"). As pronunciation evolved over centuries, the B after M at the end of a word went silent, but spelling never caught up. The same thing happened to the K in KNOW and KNIGHT. Silent letters are crossword gold because they surprise solvers — similar tricky endings appear on words ending in H where silent GH causes confusion.
What B-ending words are best for Scrabble?
JAB (12 points) is the standout short play because the J tile does the heavy lifting. APLOMB (12 points), ABSORB (11 points), and SUPERB (10 points) are strong mid-length options. For tight board positions, three-letter plays like COB, DAB, FIB, and HUB fit almost anywhere. To explore more plays using the J tile, see words starting with J and words ending in J.
Are there any unusual B-ending words worth memorizing?
ABCOULOMB (a unit of electrical charge) is the longest common B-ender at nine letters. ADSORB (different from ABSORB — it means to gather on a surface rather than soak in) catches opponents off guard. BICARB, PREFAB, and HOBNOB are informal words that most people know but forget are valid in Scrabble. For other scientific vocabulary useful in word games, browse words ending in C where technical -IC words abound.