Words Ending
in NESS
-NESS is an Old English suffix that converts adjectives into abstract nouns meaning "the state or quality of being." DARKNESS (state of being dark), KINDNESS (quality of being kind), HAPPINESS (state of being happy). Nearly every English adjective can take -NESS.
What Does -NESS Mean?
The suffix -NESS comes from Old English -nes and converts adjectives into abstract nouns meaning "the state or quality of being." DARKNESS = the state of being dark, KINDNESS = the quality of being kind, HAPPINESS = the state of being happy. -NESS is highly productive — it can attach to virtually any English adjective: TALL → TALLNESS, CRAZY → CRAZINESS (Y→I), BLUE → BLUENESS. Compare -NESS to -ITY: both form abstract nouns, but -NESS is Old English (KINDNESS) while -ITY is Latin (INTENSITY).
-NESS Words by Length
4-letter -NESS words
8-letter -NESS words
9-letter -NESS words
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the -NESS suffix mean?
-NESS comes from Old English -nes and forms abstract nouns from adjectives. It means "the state or quality of being": DARKNESS = state of being dark, KINDNESS = quality of being kind. -NESS is highly productive — virtually any English adjective can take it. Adjectives ending in Y change to I before -NESS: HAPPY → HAPPINESS, CRAZY → CRAZINESS.
What are the highest-scoring -NESS words in Scrabble?
Top -NESS plays: JAZZINESS (26 pts), FIZZINESS (24 pts), FUZZINESS (23 pts), BUZZINESS (23 pts), CRAZINESS (20 pts), HAZINESS (20 pts), LAZINESS (18 pts), COZINESS (18 pts). -NESS words containing Z, J, or double-Z roots score highest. JAZZINESS is the tournament crown jewel.
What common words end in -NESS?
Common -NESS words: FITNESS, ILLNESS, SADNESS, MADNESS, WITNESS, DARKNESS, FAIRNESS, KINDNESS, SOFTNESS, WEAKNESS, GOODNESS, HARDNESS, HAPPINESS, LONELINESS, AWARENESS, BITTERNESS, CALMNESS, BRIGHTNESS, GREATNESS, SELFISHNESS, MINDFULNESS, WILLINGNESS, FRIENDLINESS.
What is the difference between -NESS and -ITY?
Both -NESS and -ITY form abstract nouns meaning "the quality/state of being," but -NESS is Old English and -ITY is Latin. -NESS attaches to native English adjectives: KIND → KINDNESS, DARK → DARKNESS, HAPPY → HAPPINESS. -ITY attaches to Latinate adjectives: INTENSE → INTENSITY, EQUAL → EQUALITY, SCARCE → SCARCITY. Sometimes both forms exist: CREATIVE + NESS = CREATIVENESS and CREATIVE + ITY = CREATIVITY — both valid, ITY is more formal.