The SH Ending: Hundreds of Words, One Satisfying Sound
English loves the -SH ending. WASH, FISH, RUSH, CRUSH, BRUSH, FLASH, TRASH, SPLASH — these words feel immediate and physical, and there's a reason for that. The SH sound (technically a voiceless postalveolar fricative) is one of the most expressive sounds in English. We use it to silence people ("shhh"), to describe fast movement (WHOOSH, SWISH, SWOOSH), and to name actions that involve impact (SMASH, CRASH, BASH, CLASH, GNASH). Linguists call this sound symbolism — the SH sound naturally evokes rapid or forceful motion.
For crossword solvers, -SH words split into two camps. The short ones (ASH, ISH, USH) crop up as fill, while longer forms follow predictable patterns. The -ISH suffix turns nouns and adjectives into approximations: REDDISH, FOOLISH, CHILDISH, SMALLISH. The -ASH family (BASH, CASH, DASH, GASH, HASH, LASH, MASH, RASH, WASH) rhymes perfectly and fills grids beautifully. If your crossword answer is _ _ _ SH and the clue suggests quick action, try the -ASH or -USH families first.
Scrabble strategy: SH words are everywhere, but the real scoring comes from less obvious plays like QUASH (14 points with the Q), SQUASH (16 points), and KIBOSH (15 points). Also remember that BOSH, GOSH, JOSH, NOSH, POSH, and TOSH are all valid four-letter plays that score 7-9 points each. For related ending patterns, check words ending in ER for another massive suffix family, and words starting with F for FISH, FLASH, FLUSH, and other F+SH combinations. words starting with B covers BASH, BRASH, BRUSH, and BUSHEL.
FAQ
What is sound symbolism in -SH words?
Sound symbolism means certain sounds carry inherent meaning. The SH sound in English often suggests swift motion or impact — CRASH, SLASH, SWISH, WHOOSH, SQUISH all evoke physical action through their sound alone. This isn't coincidental; linguists have documented this pattern across many languages. For more on how sounds shape words, explore words ending in OX, where the hard X creates a similarly punchy effect.
How does the -ISH suffix work in English?
Adding -ISH to an adjective creates a softer, approximate version: GREENISH means "somewhat green," TALLISH means "fairly tall." Adding -ISH to nouns creates adjectives suggesting resemblance: BOYISH, CLOWNISH, FIENDISH. It's one of English's most productive suffixes. This suffix also makes words valid in Scrabble that otherwise wouldn't exist. For another productive suffix, see words ending in ER.
What are the highest-scoring -SH words in Scrabble?
SQUASH (16), QUASH (14), and KIBOSH (15) lead the pack for common plays. If you can land SQUELCH ending in SH-adjacent sounds, even better. The key is pairing SH with high-value tiles like Q, K, or J. JOSHED (using the J) scores 14 points base. See words ending in AX for similarly punchy short endings with scoring potential.
Two-Letter Words (1)
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Four-Letter Words (34)
Five-Letter Words (43)
Six-Letter Words (97)
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Eight-Letter Words (214)
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