Wordspine #12
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Answers for puzzle #12. Every word below follows the spine: the first letter starts the word, the last letter ends it, and any letters in between appear in that order somewhere inside.
Take BR. A word like baa looks close but doesn't count — it starts with B but ends with A, not R. Order is the whole game.
Pro — four levels
starts with B and ends with R.
babysitter, bachelor, backdoor, backer, badder, baker, baller, ballplayer, banister, banker, banner, bannister, banter, bar, barber, barker, barometer, barrier, barrister, bartender, barter, batter, bazaar, bear, bearer, beater, beaver, beeper, beer, beggar … and 542 more
All words that fit BRScoring on this level: BAR = 5 points, BABYSITTER = 12 points.
starts with E and ends with S, with S in between, in that order.
eases, effectiveness, effortless, eggshells, embarrass, embarrasses, embassies, emissions, emphasis, empress, emptiness, endless, endorsements, enterprises, episodes, erasers, erases, escapades, escapes, escorts, esophagus, espressos, ess, essays, establishes, establishments, estimates, euphemisms, evasions, excess … and 967 more
All words that fit ESSScoring on this level: ESS = 7 points, ESTABLISHMENTS = 18 points.
starts with E and ends with E, with S then I in between, in that order.
elusive, emphasize, espionage, estimate, evasive, excessive, exclusive, exhaustive, expensive, explosive, expressive, exquisite, extensive, earthshine, ecclesiae, ectoparasite, effusive, egestive, electroconvulsive, electropositive, emissive, emphasise, emulsifiable, emulsive, endoparasite, ensanguine, enshrine, enshrinee, ensilage, ensile … and 37 more
All words that fit ESIEScoring on this level: ENSILE = 12 points, ELECTROCONVULSIVE = 23 points.
starts with R and ends with N, with T then I then O in between, in that order.
radiation, ration, reaction, realization, reception, recitation, recognition, recollection, recommendation, reconciliation, recreation, recrimination, redemption, reduction, reelection, reflection, regeneration, registration, regulation, rehabilitation, rejection, relation, relaxation, relocation, renovation, repetition, representation, reproduction, reputation, requisition … and 230 more
All words that fit RTIONScoring on this level: RATION = 14 points, RECOMMENDATION = 22 points.
Ranks on this day
- Beginner0
- Good Start26
- Moving Up58
- Good96
- Solid160
- Nice244
- Great333
- Genius448
- Perfect640
Sprint — ten rounds
Sprint can't be replayed, so this is the record of the day.
starts with F and ends with M.
fanaticism, farm, fascism, fathom, favoritism, fiefdom, film, firestorm, firm, foam, forearm, form, forum, freedom, from, fulcrum, facepalm, factionalism, factotum, factualism, faddism, fairyism, falciform, familism, fandom, fantasm, fantom, fanum, faradism, fatalism, fauvism, favism, federalism, fem, feminism, ferbam, fermium, ferrimagnetism, ferromagnetism, ferrum, fetichism, fetishism, feudalism, feuilletonism, fideism, filiform, filmdom, filum, finalism, firearm, fireroom, fireworm, fishworm, flabelliform, flabellum, flagellantism, flagellum, flam, flatworm, fleam, flimflam, florilegium, flotsam, fluidram, fogyism, folium, foram, foreboom, foredoom, foreignism, formalism, fraenum, francium, fraternalism, freeform, freneticism, frenulum, frenum, frustum, fulham, fullam, funambulism, functionalism, fundamentalism, fungiform, funnelform, furculum, fusiform, futilitarianism, futurism
All words that fit FMstarts with H and ends with S.
habits, hackers, hacks, hades, haggis, hags, hails, haircuts, hairdressers, hairless, hairs, hairstyles, halitosis, halls, hallucinations, hallways, halves, hamburgers, hammers, hams, hamsters, handbags, handcuffs, handguns, handles, handouts, hands, hangers, hangouts, hangovers, hangs, hanks, happenings, happens, happiness, haps, harass, harbors, hardens, harmless, harmonious, harms, harness, harpies, harpoons, harps, harriers, harts, has, hashtags, hatches, hates, hats, hauls, haunts, hawks, hazardous, hazards, headaches, headdress, headless, headlights, headlines, headphones, headquarters, heads, headsets, healers, heals, heaps, hearings, hears, heartbeats, heartless, hearts, heathens, heats, heavens, heckles, hedges, heels, heights, heinous, heiress, heirlooms, heirs, helicopters, hells, helmets, helms, helpers, helpless, helplessness, helps, hemlines, hemorrhoids, hens, hepatitis, herbs, hercules, herds, hernias, heroes, heroics, herpes, hers, hesitates, hexes, hiatus, hibiscus, hiccups, hicks, hideous, hides, hieroglyphs, highlands, highlighters, highlights, highness, highs, highways, hijinks, hikers, hilarious, hillbillies, hills, hinges, hints, hippies, hippopotamus, hippos, hips, hires, his, hiss, hisses, histories, hitchhikers, hits, hitters, hives, hoaxes, hobbies, hobbits, hoboes, hocks, hocus, hoes, hogs, holders, holdings, holds, holes, holidays, holies, holiness, hollers, hombres, homeboys, homeless, homeowners, homers, homes, homicides, homos, homosexuals, honeymooners, honeymoons, honks, honors, honours, hoodlums, hookers, hooks, hooligans, hoops, hooters, hooves, hopeless, hopelessness, hopes, hops, hordes, horizons, hormones, hornets, horns, horoscopes, horrendous, horrors, horses, hoses, hospitals, hostages, hostess, hostiles, hostilities, hosts, hotcakes, hotdogs, hotels, hots, hounds, hourglass, hours, houseguests, households, houses, housewives, hows, hubcaps, hubris, huggers, hugs, humans, humiliates, humiliations, hummus, humorless, humps, hums, humus, hunches, hundreds, hunks, huns, hunters, hurdles, hurricanes, hurts, husbands, huskies, husks, huts, hybrids, hydraulics, hyenas, hymns, hypnosis, hypocrites … and 2309 more
All words that fit HSstarts with P and ends with S, with S in between, in that order.
painless, paralysis, parasites, parishioners, parsons, partnerships, pass, passages, passageways, passengers, passes, passions, passports, pastels, pasties, pasts, pastures, pauses, pedestrians, peerless, penises, penniless, pensioners, pensions, persists, personalities, personals, persons, perspectives, pesos, pesticides, pests, phases, pheasants, philosophers, philosophies, phosphorous, phrases, physicals, physicists, physics, piss, pisses, pistachios, pistols, pistons, pleasantries, pleases, pleasures, pluses, podcasts, pointless, poisonous, poisons, poltergeists, poses, posies, positions, positives, posses, possess, possesses, possessions, possibilities, postcards, posters, posts, powerless, praises, predecessors, premises, preposterous, prescribes, prescriptions, presents, preservatives, preserves, presets, presidents, press, presses, pressures, prestigious, presumptuous, pretenses, priceless, priests, princess, princesses, prisoners, prisons, priss, process, processes, processors, profess, professionals, professors, prognosis, progress, progresses, promiscuous, promises, proposals, proposes, prosecutors, prospects, prostitutes, protestants, protesters, protestors, protests, provisions, prowess, psychiatrists, psychoanalysis, psychologists, psychopaths, psychos, psychosis, psychotics, publishers, pulses, punishes, punishments, purchases, purposes, pursuits, pushers, pushes, puss, pussies, pacesetters, pachisis, pachysandras, pacificisms, pacificists, pacifisms, pacifists, packhorses, packinghouses, packness, packnesses, packsacks, packsaddles, paddlefishes, padishahs, padshahs, paduasoys, paeanisms, paedogeneses, paedogenesis, paedomorphisms, paedomorphoses, paedomorphosis, paesanos, paesans, paganises, paganisms, paganists, painfulness, painfulnesses, painlessness, painlessnesses, painstakings, paintbrushes, painterliness, painterlinesses, paisanas, paisanos, paisans, paisas, paisleys, palatableness, palatablenesses, palatialness, palatialnesses, paleness, palenesses, paleoanthropologists, paleobiologists, paleobotanists, paleoclimatologists, paleoecologists, paleomagnetisms, paleomagnetists, paleontologists, paleopathologists, paleosols, paleozoologists, palestras, palimpsests, palindromists, palingeneses, palingenesis, palisades, palletises, palliasses, pallidness, pallidnesses, palmistries, palmists, palsgraves, palships, palsies, paltriness, paltrinesses, paludisms, palynologists, pancreases, pandanuses, panegyrists, panelists, panfishes, pangeneses, pangenesis, panmixises, pansexualities, pansies, pansophies, pantdress, pantdresses, pantheisms, pantheists, pantisocracies, pantisocratists, pantomimists, pantsuits, pantywaists, paperiness, paperinesses, paperless, papillomaviruses, papistries, papists, papooses, papovaviruses, pappooses, papyrologists, papyruses … and 1930 more
All words that fit PSSstarts with H and ends with K, with L in between, in that order.
halfback, hallmark, headlock, hemlock, hulk, hairlock, halfbeak, halterbreak, hammerlock, havelock, herrenvolk, hillock, holdback, holk, hollyhock, houseleek, hyperlink
All words that fit HLKstarts with S and ends with R, with E in between, in that order.
saber, sadder, safer, salamander, saltwater, sandpaper, saucer, saver, sawyer, sayer, scalper, scanner, scarier, scatter, scavenger, scepter, schiller, schnauzer, schoolteacher, schooner, scooter, scorcher, scrambler, screamer, screwdriver, sear, sector, seeker, seer, seller, seltzer, semester, seminar, senator, sender, senior, senor, sensor, ser, server, sever, sewer, sexier, shaker, shareholder, sharpener, sharper, shatter, shaver, shear, sheer, shelter, shifter, shimmer, shiver, shocker, shoemaker, shooter, shopkeeper, shoplifter, shopper, shorter, shoulder, shower, showstopper, shredder, sicker, sidebar, sidecar, sidewinder, silver, simmer, simpler, singer, sinister, sinker, sinner, sister, sitter, skater, skewer, skier, skinner, skipper, skyscraper, slacker, slammer, slander, slasher, slater, slaughter, slayer, sledgehammer, sleeper, sleepover, slender, slicer, slicker, slider, slimmer, slipper, slither, sliver, slower, slugger, slumber, smaller, smarter, smear, smoker, smoother, smother, smuggler, snapper, snatcher, sneaker, sneer, snicker, snifter, sniper, sober, soccer, softener, softer, soldier, somber, songwriter, sooner, soothsayer, souvenir, speaker, spear, spectacular, spectator, specter, speedometer, speller, spencer, spender, spider, spinner, spinster, splatter, splendor, splinter, spoiler, sportswear, spotter, springer, sprinkler, spritzer, squander, squatter, staffer, stagger, stalker, stamper, stapler, starter, stealer, steamer, steamroller, steer, stellar, stenographer, stepfather, stepmother, sterner, sticker, stickler, stiffer, stifler, stinger, stockbroker, stockholder, stomper, stoner, stranger, strangler, streetcar, streetwalker, stretcher, stripper, stroller, stronger, strummer, stumper, stupider, stutter, sucker, suffer, summer, sunflower, super, supercollider, superior, superpower, superstar, supervisor, supper, supplier, supporter, surfer, surrender, swear, sweater, sweeper, sweeter, swimmer, saboteur, saccharimeter, saccharometer, sacker, sacrificer, saddler, safecracker, safflower, sager, sagger, saggier, sagier, sailboater, sailer, sailplaner, saintlier, saker, salinometer, sallier, sallower, salometer, saltcellar, salter, saltier, saltpeter, saltshaker, saluter, salvager, salver, sampler, sanctifier … and 990 more
All words that fit SERstarts with A and ends with N, with T then I in between, in that order.
abduction, aberration, abomination, abortion, absolution, absorption, abstain, acceleration, accommodation, accumulation, accusation, acquisition, actin, action, activation, actualization, addiction, addition, administration, admiration, admonition, adoption, adoration, affection, affiliation, aggravation, agitation, alienation, allegation, alliteration, alteration, altercation, ambition, ammunition, amputation, animation, annihilation, anticipation, antivenin, apparition, application, appreciation, approximation, arbitration, asphyxiation, assassination, association, assumption, attain, attention, attraction, auction, audition, augmentation, authorization, aviation, abbreviation, abdication, abjection, abjuration, ablation, ablution, abnegation, abolition, abreaction, abrogation, abruption, abstention, abstraction, abutilon, accentuation, acceptation, acclamation, acclimation, acclimatization, accreditation, accretion, acculturation, accustomation, acetaminophen, acetification, acetin, acetophenetidin, acetylation, acidification, acidulation, acoustician, actinian, actinomycin, actinon, actomyosin, actuation, acylation, adaptation, adaption, adduction, adjudication, adjunction, adjuration, adnation, adrenocorticotrophin, adrenocorticotropin, adsorption, adulation, adulteration, adumbration, advection, advocation, aeration, aerosolization, aesthetician, aestivation, affectation, affirmation, affixation, affliction, afforestation, aflatoxin, agglomeration, agglutination, agglutinin, agglutinogen, aggradation, aggregation, agnation, alation, aldolization, alimentation, alkalinization, alkylation, allantoin, allegorization, allethrin, alleviation, alloantigen, allocation, allocution, alphabetization, alternation, amalgamation, amanitin, ambulation, amelioration, aminopterin, ammoniation, ammonification, amortization, amotion, amplification, amylopectin, anagrammatization, analyzation, anatoxin, angiotensin, anglicization, angulation, animalization, annexation, annotation, annulation, annunciation, anodization, antediluvian, anthelion, anthemion, anthocyanin, anthropomorphization, antiabortion, antiadministration, antiaggression, antialien, antiarin, antiassimilation, antiauthoritarian, antiauxin, antibaryon, anticarcinogen, anticodon, anticollision, anticonservation, anticorrosion, anticorruption, antidefamation, antidepression, antidesegregation, antidesertification, antidilution, antidiscrimination, antiegalitarian, antielectron, antiestrogen, antievolution, antifashion, antiforeign, antifriction, antigen, antiglobulin, antigun, antihuman, antihumanitarian, antilepton, antilibertarian, antiman, antimiscegenation, antimodern, antimycin, antineutron, antinomian, antinucleon, antiorganization, antiphon, antipodean, antipollution, antiporn, antiprostitution, antiproton, antiquarian, antiquation, antirecession, antireflection, antirejection, antireligion, antisegregation, antispeculation, antisubversion, antithrombin, antitotalitarian, antitoxin, antiunion, antiurban, antivitamin, antivivisection, antiwoman, antlion, apolipoprotein, appellation, apperception, appertain, apportion, apposition … and 44 more
All words that fit ATINstarts with L and ends with S, with R then D in between, in that order.
landlords, leopards, leotards, lizards, lords, lovebirds, labradorites, labradors, labroids, labyrinthodonts, lacertids, ladybirds, laggardness, laggardnesses, laggards, lairds, lampyrids, landlordisms, landwards, laniards, lanyards, lapboards, larboards, larders, lardons, lardoons, lards, largeheartedness, largeheartednesses, larvicides, laryngitides, learnedness, learnednesses, leatherwoods, leeboards, leewards, leftwards, legerdemains, lemuroids, leopardess, leopardesses, leporids, letterheads, liards, lifeguards, lightheartedness, lightheartednesses, linebreedings, linerboards, lipopolysaccharides, lipreadings, lipreads, loanwords, loggerheads, lordings, lordless, lordliness, lordlinesses, lordlings, lordomas, lordoses, lordosis, lordships, lowriders, lumberyards, lurdanes, lurdans, luridness, luridnesses, lyrebirds
All words that fit LRDSstarts with F and ends with L, with N then A in between, in that order.
fictional, final, financial, fingernail, fraternal, frontal, functional, fundamental, funeral, fungal, factional, fanatical, fantail, fantastical, faunal, fenestral, fentanyl, finial, finical, firmamental, fissional, fluctuational, fluxional, fontal, fontanel, foraminal, foraminiferal, fornical, foundational, fractional, fragmental, frictional, funereal, fungicidal
All words that fit FNALstarts with N and ends with S, with I then C then E in between, in that order.
niceties, nickels, nicknames, nieces, notices, navicerts, negligences, nematicides, neocortices, nephrotoxicities, nesciences, neurosciences, neurotoxicities, niacinamides, niccolites, niceness, nicenesses, niches, nickeliferous, nickelodeons, nickers, nickles, nicknamers, nicotinamides, nicotines, nictates, nictitates, nightclothes, nightclubbers, nightscopes, nincompooperies, nitchies, nitpickers, nitrocelluloses, nitroglycerines, nitroglycerins, nonarchitectures, nonbelligerencies, noncandidacies, noncoincidences, noncompliances, nonconfidences, nondisclosures, nonequivalences, nonevidences, nonexistences, nonincumbents, nonindependences, noninfluences, noninsurances, nonintercourses, noninterferences, nonresidences, nonresidencies, nonresistances, nonsciences, nonsensicalness, nonsensicalnesses, nonviolences, nosepieces, noticeboards, noticers, novices, nucleophilicities, nuisances
All words that fit NICESstarts with C and ends with L, with R then F then U in between, in that order.
careful, cheerful, colorful, carful, centrifugal, characterful, counterfactual
All words that fit CRFULQuestions
- What were the answers to Wordspine #12?
- They're all above — every word that fits each spine, recognizable words first.
- Can I still play this puzzle?
- Pro days stay playable with an account. Sprint is today-only.
- When do answers get published?
- The day after the puzzle runs. Today's answers are never posted.