Scrabble Words Ending in -LY — Adverb Strategy for High Scores
The -LY suffix transforms adjectives into adverbs — and in Scrabble, it transforms good words into bingo-eligible powerhouses. Adding two tiles (L + Y = 5pts) to a strong base word unlocks the 50-point bonus while maintaining high per-tile scoring. These four -LY words are the best in the game.
25
Top Score (QUICKLY)
L=1 Y=4
Suffix Cost
7-8
Letters (Bingo Range)
+50
Bingo Bonus
Top -LY Words by Score
🏆 QUICKLY
25 points · 7 letters · Q(10)+U(1)+I(1)+C(3)+K(5)+L(1)+Y(4)
🏆 THICKLY
19 points · 7 letters · T(1)+H(4)+I(1)+C(3)+K(5)+L(1)+Y(4)
⭐ SWIFTLY
16 points · 7 letters · S(1)+W(4)+I(1)+F(4)+T(1)+L(1)+Y(4)
⭐ BRISKLY
16 points · 7 letters · B(3)+R(1)+I(1)+S(1)+K(5)+L(1)+Y(4)
The -LY Bingo Strategy
Hold L and Y together: When you have L and Y on your rack alongside strong consonants (K, W, F, H), look for -LY bingos. The 50-point bonus makes even modest base words worth 60+ points.
Extend existing words: If QUICK is already on the board and you have L+Y, adding -LY scores the whole word plus bonus tiles. This works when the suffix fits the board layout.
QUICKLY = 75pts total: 25 base points + 50 bingo bonus = 75 points from one play. That's before any premium squares. On a DWS, it could reach 100+ points.
✓ Valid -LY Words
QUICKLY, THICKLY, SWIFTLY, BRISKLY, SHARPLY, DARKLY, FRANKLY, BLANKLY
✗ Not Valid / Low Value
FASTLY (invalid), HARDLY (10pts — too low), LONELY (9pts — weak base)
💡 Pro Tip
The best -LY words have high-value base words (QUICK, THICK, SWIFT, BRISK). If your base word already scores 11+ points, adding -LY for a bingo is almost always the right play over shorter alternatives.
🔤 Find all -LY words from your tiles — free Scrabble solver, no sign-up
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