Yes. WAX is a valid word.
WAX is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
WAX is in the NASPA Word List 2023 (NWL2023), the North American list that Tileside uses for challenges and the one used in club and tournament play.
About WAX
WAX is the substance candles and crayons are made of, and as a verb it means to polish with wax or to grow, as in the waxing moon; its forms include WAXED, WAXES and WAXING, and WAXY is valid too. With the W and the X, WAX is worth 13 before bonuses.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
WAX scores 13 points
Before any bonus squares: W 4 + A 1 + X 8 = 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.
Example: WAX as the first play
Later in the game, put the X on a 3L square and WAX is worth 29 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
After WAX (1):
- WAXYmade of or covered with wax
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from WAX
Other forms of WAX (3):
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of WAX and these are still words:
- FAXto transmit and reproduce by electronic means
- LAXa vowel articulated with relatively relaxed muscles; not strict or stringent
- MAXto reach the upper limit
- PAXa ceremonial embrace given to signify Christian love and unity
- RAXto stretch out
- SAXa saxophone
- TAXto place a charge imposed by authority for public purposes on
- VAXto vaccinate
Same letters, other words
No other word in the list uses exactly the letters W, A and X.
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more
WAX + Y
- WAXYmade of or covered with wax
Memory tip
WAX is what candles are made of. Add a Y for WAXY.
On these lists
Check words at the table, free
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.
Word list: NASPA Word List 2023, used under license. NASPA Word List 2023 Edition © NASPA 2023. The copy included in this app is licensed for personal use. You may not use it for any commercial purposes.
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.