x-e-n-o-p-h-o-b-e
XENOPHOBE is a person who fears or dislikes foreigners or strangers from other countries. In word games, it's a premium 9-letter word featuring the high-value X tile (8 points).
23
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
A XENOPHOBE is someone who harbors fear, distrust, or hatred of foreigners or people from different cultures. The term combines "xeno-" (foreign) with "-phobe" (one who fears), creating a word that unfortunately describes a common human prejudice.
In word games, XENOPHOBE is a powerhouse worth 23 base points. The X tile (8 points) immediately establishes this as a high-value play, while the PH combination (P=3, H=4) adds additional scoring punch. At 9 letters, it's perfect for earning the 50-point bingo bonus.
Strategic tip: XENOPHOBE is ideal for X-placement strategy. Look for opportunities to place the X on a double or triple letter score. The word can also be built from smaller components like PHOBE or extended from XENOPHOBIA by removing letters.
XENOPHOBE derives from Greek "xenos" (stranger, foreigner) + "phobos" (fear). First recorded in English in the early 1900s, the term emerged during periods of increased immigration and nationalism. The Greek root "xenos" also gives us words like xenial (hospitable to strangers) and xenograft (tissue from another species).
•XENOPHOBE contains both X (8 pts) and PH (7 pts combined), making it exceptionally valuable
•The -PHOBE suffix appears in many valid words (claustrophobe, agoraphobe), a useful pattern
•At 9 letters, XENOPHOBE earns the 50-point bingo bonus plus its high base value
"XENOPHOBE for a bingo with the X on a triple letter - that's over 100 points in one play!"
"I built XENOPHOBE from an existing PHOBE on the board - X words are game changers!"
BUZZWORD
32 pts
PUZZLED
28 pts
MAXIMIZE
28 pts
JUKEBOX
27 pts
OXIDIZE
24 pts
COMPLEX
20 pts
AMAZING
19 pts
EXAMPLE
18 pts