Is GYMS a valid word?

GYMS is the plural of GYM, a place for exercise. It has no A, E, I, O or U, so it can clear a rack of consonants with a single Y. If GYM is on the board, an S on the end makes GYMS. Everyone knows the word, and it's valid, so a challenge against it fails. School gyms, boxing gyms and climbing gyms all count, and the singular GYM is just as safe. The word goes back to the Greek gymnasion, a place where athletes trained. In ancient Athens, young men met there for running, wrestling and conversation.

Before any bonus squares: G 2 + Y 4 + M 3 + S 1 = 10. On a double-word square that's 20, on a triple-word 30, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the Y on a 3L square and GYMS is worth 18 before any word bonus.

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

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters G, Y, M and S.

GYMS is the plural of GYM. Four tiles with no A, E, I, O or U.

• Words without vowels

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

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