Words Ending in FUL: Handful, Hopeful, and Beyond
The -FUL suffix is one of English's most productive word-builders. Attach it to nearly any noun and you get an adjective: HOPE becomes HOPEFUL, CARE becomes CAREFUL, BEAUTY becomes BEAUTIFUL. But here's the spelling catch that trips people up: -FUL always has one L, never two, even though FULL the standalone word has two. This rule is consistent across every -FUL word in the language — THANKFUL, GRACEFUL, POWERFUL, never THANKFULL.
There's also the measurement sense: a HANDFUL, CUPFUL, BAGFUL, ARMFUL. These describe how much a container holds, and their plurals cause arguments. Is it CUPFULS or CUPSFUL? Both are accepted, but CUPFULS is more standard in modern usage. For Scrabble players, -FUL words tend to be medium-length (6-9 letters) with moderate scoring. WRATHFUL (17 points) and ZESTFUL (19 points) stand out as higher scorers. In crosswords, AWFUL is constant (clues: "terrible," "dreadful"), and ARTFUL appears often ("cunning," "Dickens adjective" for Artful Dodger). A good strategy: if you see a crossword answer that's 7-8 letters and the clue is an adjective meaning "full of [something]," try -FUL. Browse words ending in ING for another major English suffix, and words starting with A for ARTFUL, ARMFUL, AIDFUL, and more.
FAQ
Why does -FUL have only one L when FULL has two?
When FULL became a suffix in Old English, it gradually lost the second L through a process called unstressed syllable reduction. The suffix carries less emphasis than the standalone word, so spelling simplified over centuries. This happened around the 14th-15th century and has been consistent ever since. For other spelling patterns, explore words starting with E.
What are the best -FUL words for Scrabble?
ZESTFUL (19 points), WRATHFUL (17 points), and FAITHFUL (17 points) lead the pack. BASHFUL (15) and VENGEFUL (15) are also solid. The F tile is only worth 4 points, so the value comes from word length and other tiles. For more high-scoring strategies, look at words starting with F to maximize your F tile across different positions.
Is CUPSFUL or CUPFULS the correct plural?
Both are accepted, but CUPFULS is more common in modern dictionaries. The logic: a CUPFUL is a single unit of measurement, so it pluralizes like any noun — add S to the end. CUPSFUL treats CUP as the main noun, which is older usage. Scrabble accepts both forms. Check words starting with T for related measurement words like TEASPOONFUL.