When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson drops a mic, you expect it to be on a movie set—or in the ring. But recently, he dropped something totally different: a Scrabble word.
That’s right. On Instagram, the action hero proudly showed off a winning play from a heated game of Scrabble and captioned it with just three words: “It’s a verb.” Simple. Smug. And somehow, hilarious.
Turns out, Scrabble isn’t just your aunt’s rainy Sunday game anymore. Behind the glitz and red carpets, a surprising number of celebrities are spending their downtime locked in quiet battles over triple word scores. Who knew the Hollywood elite were closet word nerds?
Let’s take a peek at the famous faces who treat Scrabble like a high-stakes sport—and might just school you with a seven-letter stunner.
The man known for lifting trucks and punching villains also enjoys crushing egos with vocabulary.
His Scrabble post oozed quiet confidence—the kind that comes from knowing you just laid down a word your opponent has never heard of. “We’re Scrabble players,” he wrote. “And every once in a while, the king has to mic drop one of those highly intellectualized words.”
Honestly? Iconic.
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She’s played prime ministers, dragons in Prada, and everything in between. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Meryl Streep reportedly plays Scrabble with the same poise and precision she brings to her roles.
No dramatics. No trash talk. Just cold, calculated wordplay. And yes, you’ll lose to her and still say thank you.
Meryl Streep
He’s got rhythm, he’s got style—and apparently, he’s got a solid Scrabble game too. Justin Timberlake has talked about how much he enjoys the challenge of it, calling it his go-to when he wants to unplug and think.
The man who brought “SexyBack” might just hit you with a “syzygy” and smile while doing it.
Justin Timberlake
Martha Stewart doesn’t play Scrabble. She conquers it.
Friends say her approach is efficient and ruthless—like folding a fitted sheet with military precision. She’s even played against Snoop Dogg. Let’s just say one of them walked away with a vocabulary lesson.
Martha Stewart
Okay, not a “celebrity” in the Hollywood sense, but Barack Obama’s love for language is no secret. Word games are reportedly a favorite pastime between him and Michelle.
Can you imagine the debates over what counts as a word in that household? Presidential, poetic, and probably unbeatable.
@barackobama Instagram
Honestly, it makes sense. Scrabble hits a sweet spot—it’s competitive without being chaotic, chill but still a challenge. There’s something about staring down a rack of tiles and finding the perfect word that’s deeply satisfying, whether you’re on a film set or your living room couch.
And let’s face it: for people whose lives are filled with constant noise, the quiet concentration of a board game might be the best kind of escape.
Wait, The Rock actually plays Scrabble?
Yes. And he seems to take it pretty seriously. His post didn’t show the exact word he played, but judging by his grin, it was a good one.
Are other celebrities really into it?
More than you’d think. Scrabble has been a longtime favorite among actors, musicians, and even politicians. It’s a subtle flex for people who already have plenty of loud ones.
Is Scrabble having a moment?
Between cozy game nights, brainy content creators, and viral celeb posts, yeah—it kind of is. It’s the quiet comeback nobody saw coming.
So the next time someone calls Scrabble boring, just remember this: The Rock plays it. Meryl Streep probably crushes at it. And somewhere out there, Justin Timberlake is sliding a Q onto a double letter tile with perfect pitch.
Word games are back. And they’re cooler than ever.
