Is ADZ a valid word?

ADZ is a woodworking tool like an ax with its blade set crosswise, used for shaping timber; ADZE is valid too, and both can be verbs. ADZ ends in Z, so it can put the 10-point Z on a bonus square at the end of a play. Its A and D are easy tiles to have. Shipwrights and timber framers swing an adz toward their feet to smooth a beam, so it takes a steady hand.

Before any bonus squares: A 1 + D 2 + Z 10 = 13. On a double-word square that's 26, on a triple-word 39, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the Z on a 3L square and ADZ is worth 33 before any word bonus.

Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.

Swap any one letter of ADZ and these are still words:

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters A, D and Z.

ADZ is a woodworking tool like an ax with the blade turned sideways, also spelled ADZE.

• Three-letter words with J, Q, X or Z

Tileside keeps score, checks words like this one during a challenge, tracks the tiles left in the bag and times turns. It runs in your phone's browser with no account and works offline.

Tileside checks words against the North American list, the NASPA Word List 2023. Your group's chosen dictionary always wins.

Works with the Scrabble board game, played at the table. Tileside is an independent product, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Scrabble.