9-Letter Words Matching __S_____M

There are 27 9-letter words that match __S_____M. 8 are common words, such as DESPOTISM and DISESTEEM. A rarer one is VESTIGIUM. In this set, I is the most frequent open letter (23 words). 7 words contain a doubled letter.

Full list 27

Common words

despotismdisesteemhistogrammasochismmesmerismmisinformmysticismpessimismabsurdismdisaffirmfastigiumfusionism
despotismdisesteemhistogrammasochismmesmerismmisinformmysticismpessimismabsurdismdisaffirmfastigiumfusionismhospitiumkissogrammisesteempassivismpisciformresponsumrostellumcastoreumdisciformhispanismjesuitismmisoneismmosaicismvasospasmvestigium

About this list

Words
27 (8 common words)
Common example
despotism
Rare example
vestigium
Doubled letters
7
Ending in S
0
Most frequent letter
I (23)

Questions

How many 9-letter words matching __s_____m are there?

27. 8 of them are common words.

What is a common example?

DESPOTISM is among the common words in this set.