A series of oxazole and thiazole compounds are shown herein to be small molecule inhibitors of the Wnt pathway that specifically target the activity of the stabilized pool of β-catenin. Oxazole and thiazole compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, cancer, and others.