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Wordspine #23

Monday, September 14, 2026

Answers for puzzle #23. 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.

Why words fit

Take ES. A word like each looks close but doesn't count — it starts with E but ends with H, not S. Order is the whole game.

Pro — four levels

Level 1ES2710 words fit

starts with E and ends with S.

eagles, earlobes, earmarks, earns, earphones, earplugs, earrings, ears, earthlings, earthquakes, eases, eaters, eats, eaves, eccentricities, echoes, economics, edges, editorials, editors, edits, educators, eels, effectiveness, effects, effortless, efforts, eggs, eggshells, egos … and 2680 more

All words that fit ES

Scoring on this level: EARS = 6 points, ECCENTRICITIES = 16 points.

Level 2BNS1275 words fit

starts with B and ends with S, with N in between, in that order.

baboons, badness, balances, balconies, baldness, balloons, bananas, bandages, bandits, bands, bangers, bangles, bangs, bankbooks, bankers, banks, banners, barbarians, baroness, basements, beans, bearings, beatings, beckons, bedpans, beginnings, begins, beings, belongings, belongs … and 1245 more

All words that fit BNS

Scoring on this level: BANDS = 9 points, BARBARIANS = 14 points.

Level 3ACAY200 words fit

starts with A and ends with Y, with C then A in between, in that order.

academy, accidentally, accompany, accountability, accuracy, accurately, actuality, actually, advocacy, affectionately, alphabetically, anatomically, automatically, abiogenically, abiotically, academically, acceleratingly, accentually, acceptability, acceptably, accessary, accommodatingly, accordantly, accountably, accountancy, accretionary, accumulatively, accusatory, acerbically, achromatically … and 170 more

All words that fit ACAY

Scoring on this level: ACADEMY = 13 points, ACCOMMODATINGLY = 21 points.

Level 4SEING503 words fit

starts with S and ends with G, with E then I then N in between, in that order.

scattering, scavenging, scheduling, scheming, screaming, screeching, screening, screwing, sealing, searching, seating, securing, seducing, seeing, seeking, seeping, seizing, selecting, selling, sending, sensing, sentencing, separating, sequencing, servicing, serving, setting, settling, sewing, sharpening … and 473 more

All words that fit SEING

Scoring on this level: SEEING = 14 points, SCATTERING = 18 points.

Ranks on this day

  • Beginner0
  • Good Start26
  • Moving Up57
  • Good95
  • Solid158
  • Nice240
  • Great328
  • Genius441
  • Perfect630
Play this Pro day

Sprint — ten rounds

Sprint can't be replayed, so this is the record of the day.

Round 1BG813 words fit

starts with B and ends with G.

babbling, backfiring, backing, backpacking, backstabbing, badgering, baffling, bag, bagging, bailing, baiting, baking, balancing, balding, bang, banging, banking, banning, barfing, bargaining, barging, baring, barking, barreling, barring, bartending, bashing, basking, bathing, battering, batting, battling, bawling, beaming, beanbag, bearing, beating, becoming, bedbug, befitting, beg, begging, beginning, behaving, beheading, being, believing, bellyaching, belong, belonging, benching, bending, berating, berg, betraying, betting, bickering, bidding, biding, big, biking, billing, binding, birthing, bitching, biting, blabbing, blacking, blackmailing, blaming, blaring, blasting, blathering, blazing, bleaching, bleeding, blending, blessing, blinding, blinking, blithering, blocking, blog, bloodsucking, blooming, blowing, blubbering, bluffing, blundering, blurting, blushing, boarding, boating, bobbing, boggling, boiling, bombarding, bombing, bonding, bong, boning, booking, boomerang, bootleg, boozing, bordering, boring, borrowing, bossing, bothering, bottling, bouncing, bowing, bowling, boxing, bracing, brag, bragging, braiding, brainstorming, brainwashing, branching, breaking, breathing, breathtaking, breeding, breezing, brewing, bribing, briefing, brig, bring, bringing, broadcasting, broadening, bronzing, brooding, browbeating, browning, browsing, bruising, brushing, buckling, budding, budging, bug, bugging, building, bulging, bulldog, bullshitting, bumbling, bumming, bumping, bunking, bunting, burgeoning, burning, burping, bursting, burying, bussing, busting, bustling, buttering, butting, buttoning, buying, buzzing, baaing, babbitting, babying, babysitting, baching, backbiting, backbreaking, backcrossing, backdating, backdropping, backfilling, backfitting, backgrounding, backhanding, backhauling, backlashing, backlighting, backlisting, backlog, backlogging, backpedaling, backpedalling, backscattering, backslapping, backsliding, backspacing, backstitching, backstopping, backstroking, backswing, backtracking, backwashing, bacterizing, badging, badinaging, badmouthing, baffing, bagwig, bakshishing, baling, balkanizing, balking, ballasting, ballhandling, balling, ballooning, balloting, ballyhooing, ballyrag, ballyragging, balsaming, bamboozling, bamming, banalizing, bandaging, banding, bandog, bandying, baning, banishing, banjaxing, bankrolling, bankrupting, bannering, banqueting, banteng, bantering, bantling, baptising, baptizing, barbarizing … and 573 more

All words that fit BG
Round 2LS2057 words fit

starts with L and ends with S.

labels, laboratories, laborers, labs, lacerations, laces, lackeys, lacks, ladders, laddies, ladies, lads, lakers, lakes, lambs, lameness, lamps, landers, landings, landlords, landmarks, lands, landscapes, lanes, languages, laps, lapses, laptops, lars, laryngitis, las, lascivious, lasers, lashes, lass, lasts, lattes, laughs, launches, lawns, laws, lawsuits, lawyers, laxatives, layers, lays, laziness, leaders, leads, leaflets, leafs, leagues, leaks, leans, leaps, learns, leaves, lectures, ledgers, leeches, leftovers, lefts, legalities, legends, legions, legs, lemmings, lengths, lens, lenses, lentils, leopards, leotards, lepers, lesbians, lesions, less, lessons, lets, letters, levels, lewis, liars, liberals, liberties, libraries, licenses, licks, lids, lies, lieutenants, lifeboats, lifeless, lifers, lifetimes, lifts, lighters, lightness, lights, likeness, likes, lilacs, lilies, limbs, limes, limitations, limitless, limits, limos, limousines, limps, linens, liners, lines, lingers, links, lions, lips, lis, listeners, listens, lists, liters, litigious, livers, lives, lizards, loads, loafers, loans, loathes, lobes, lobsters, locals, locations, lockers, locks, locusts, lodgings, logistics, logs, loins, lollipops, loneliness, loners, longs, lookouts, looks, loons, loopholes, loops, loos, lords, losers, loses, loss, losses, lots, louis, lovebirds, loveless, lovelies, lovers, loves, lowers, lowlifes, lows, loyalties, lozenges, lubricants, ludicrous, luminous, lumps, lunatics, lunches, lungs, lupus, lures, lurks, luscious, lusts, luxuries, lyrics, laagers, labanotations, labarums, labdanums, labelers, labellers, labializations, labializes, labials, labiates, labilities, labiodentals, labiovelars, laborious, laboriousness, laboriousnesses, laborites, labors, labourers, labours, labradorites, labradors, labrets, labroids, labrums, laburnums, labyrinthodonts, labyrinths, laccoliths, laceless, lacerates, lacers, lacertids, lacewings, lacewoods, laceworks, laches, lachrymators, lachrymosities, laciness, lacinesses, lacings, laciniations, lackers, lacklusters, laconisms, lacquerers, lacquers, lacquerwares, lacquerworks, lacqueys, lacrimals, lacrimations, lacrimators, lacrosses, lacs, lactalbumins … and 1817 more

All words that fit LS
Round 3MON314 words fit

starts with M and ends with N, with O in between, in that order.

madwoman, malfunction, manipulation, mansion, marathon, maroon, mason, masturbation, matron, medication, meditation, melon, meltdown, mention, metropolitan, midtown, mignon, migration, million, minion, miscalculation, misconception, mission, moan, moderation, modern, modification, molestation, molten, mon, monsoon, moon, morgan, morn, moron, motion, motivation, moulin, mountain, mourn, multimillion, multiplication, mutilation, mutton, macaroon, maceration, machicolation, machination, macon, macroevolution, macroglobulin, macroinstruction, macron, maculation, madreporian, madwomen, madzoon, magnetization, magneton, magnetostriction, magnetron, magnification, majoritarian, malabsorption, malacostracan, maladaptation, maladministration, malapropian, malathion, maldistribution, malediction, malefaction, malformation, malison, malnutrition, malocclusion, malposition, malversation, mammon, mandolin, mangosteen, manifestation, manumission, marginalization, margination, marination, markdown, markswoman, markswomen, marmorean, marocain, marron, martagon, martyrization, mascon, masculinization, mastication, mastigophoran, mastodon, materialization, mathematization, matriculation, maturation, matzoon, mavourneen, maximization, mechanization, mechanoreception, medaillon, medallion, mediation, megacorporation, megalopolitan, megaton, melanization, melatonin, melioration, mellotron, melodeon, melodramatization, melton, memorization, menazon, menstruation, mensuration, mentation, merbromin, mercerization, mercuration, merlon, meromyosin, mesencephalon, mesenteron, meson, mesotron, metafiction, metallization, metazoan, metazoon, metencephalon, methadon, methanation, methemoglobin, methylation, metopon, metrication, mezereon, microaggression, microcirculation, microdissection, microencapsulation, microevolution, microinjection, microinstruction, microloan, micromanipulation, microminiaturization, micron, microplankton, microprojection, micropulsation, microreproduction, micturition, midiron, midnoon, midsection, mikron, militarization, millimicron, milliroentgen, mineralization, miniaturization, minimization, ministration, mirliton, misadministration, misallocation, misapplication, misapprehension, misappropriation, misassumption, misattribution, misbegotten, misbutton, miscaption, miscegenation, mischaracterization, miscitation, misclassification, miscoin, miscommunication, miscomprehension, miscomputation, misconnection, misconstruction, miscorrelation, miscreation, misdescription, misdirection, misdistribution, misdivision, miseducation, misestimation, misevaluation, misfunction, misgovern, misgrown, misidentification, misimpression, misinformation, misinterpretation, misjoin, misknown, mislocation, misorientation, misperception, misposition, misprision, mispronunciation, misquotation, misreckon, misrecollection, misregistration, misrepresentation, missionization, misspoken, misthrown, mistranscription, mistranslation, misunion, misutilization, misvocalization, mitigation, mitochondrion, mitogen, mitomycin, mobilization, moccasin, modernisation, modernization … and 74 more

All words that fit MON
Round 4MLY467 words fit

starts with M and ends with Y, with L in between, in that order.

madly, magically, magnificently, mainly, maliciously, manly, manually, marginally, masculinity, massively, mathematically, mealy, measly, medically, medley, melancholy, melody, mentality, mentally, mercilessly, merely, merrily, metaphorically, methodology, meticulously, mildly, military, milky, miraculously, miserably, mobility, moderately, moldy, molly, moly, momentarily, monopoly, monthly, monumentally, morality, morally, mortality, mostly, motley, mulberry, muley, multiply, mutually, mysteriously, mythology, machinability, machineability, macrocosmically, macroevolutionary, macroscopically, maddeningly, magisterially, magistrally, magistratically, magnanimously, magnetically, magnetostrictively, magnifically, magniloquently, maidenly, mailability, maintainability, majestically, majorly, malacology, maladroitly, malady, malapertly, malariology, malarkey, malarky, malcontentedly, maledictory, malevolently, malignancy, malignantly, malignity, malignly, malleability, malmsey, malmy, malodorously, malty, mammalogy, mammillary, manageability, manageably, managerially, mandatorily, maneuverability, manfully, mangily, maniacally, manically, manifestly, manifoldly, manipulability, manipulatively, manipulatory, manlily, mannerly, mannishly, manometrically, marbly, marginality, maritally, markedly, marketability, marly, marmoreally, marriageability, marshalcy, marshmallowy, martensitically, martially, martyrly, martyrology, marvelously, masculinely, masochistically, massedly, masterfully, masterly, matchlessly, materialistically, materiality, materially, maternally, matrilineally, matrimonially, matronly, mattedly, maturely, matutinally, mawkishly, maxillary, maximally, mayfly, mayoralty, mazedly, mazily, meagerly, meagrely, meaningfully, meaninglessly, meaningly, meanly, measurability, measurably, measuredly, meatily, mechanically, mechanistically, medfly, medially, medianly, mediately, medicinally, medievally, meditatively, medullary, meekly, meetly, megalomaniacally, megascopically, meiotically, mellifluently, mellifluously, mellowly, melodically, melodiously, melodramatically, meltability, meltingly, membranously, memorability, memorably, memorially, menacingly, mendaciously, menially, menology, mensurability, mercenarily, merchantability, mercifully, mercurially, meretriciously, meridionally, meristematically, meristically, meritoriously, meroblastically, mesally, mesially, mesmerically, mesnalty, messily, metabolically, metagalaxy, metallically, metallographically, metallography, metallurgically, metallurgy, metamerically, metamorphically, metaphysically, metapsychology, metastability, metastably, metastatically, metathetically, meteorically, meteorologically, meteorology, methodically, methodologically, methylmercury, meticulosity, metrically, metrology, metronomically, miasmically, microbiologically, microbiology, microcalorimetry, microcephaly, microcirculatory, microcosmically, microcrystallinity, microelectronically, microelectrophoretically, microevolutionary, micrographically … and 227 more

All words that fit MLY
Round 5ETE378 words fit

starts with E and ends with E, with T in between, in that order.

earthquake, educate, effective, effeminate, ejaculate, elaborate, elective, electorate, electrocute, electrolyte, elevate, eliminate, elite, enterprise, entice, entire, entitle, entourage, entrance, entree, equitable, estate, estimate, etiquette, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eviscerate, evocative, exacerbate, exaggerate, excite, execute, executive, exfoliate, exhaustive, existence, exonerate, expedite, expenditure, expertise, exquisite, extensive, exterminate, extradite, extraordinaire, extreme, extricate, earstone, earthenware, earthlike, earthrise, earthshine, eatable, ebonite, ecarte, ecaudate, echinate, eclogite, ecocatastrophe, ecotone, ecotype, ectomere, ectoparasite, ectype, edentate, editable, editorialize, educationese, educative, eductive, edulcorate, effectuate, effete, egalite, egestive, eglantine, eglatere, ejectable, ejective, ektexine, elaborative, elastase, elate, elaterite, elative, electable, electee, electroconvulsive, electrode, electroluminescence, electrolyze, electronegative, electrophile, electrophorese, electroplate, electropositive, electroscope, electrotype, elephantine, eliminative, elongate, eluate, elucidate, elucidative, elucubrate, elute, elutriate, eluviate, emaciate, emanate, emanative, emancipate, emarginate, emasculate, embattle, emblematize, embrittle, embrute, embryophyte, emeerate, emendate, emeritae, emetine, emeute, emigrate, emirate, emittance, emote, emotionalize, emotive, empathise, empathize, emulate, emulative, enactive, enate, encapsulate, enceinte, endite, endnote, endoparasite, endopeptidase, endophyte, endopodite, endostyle, endplate, enervate, enlistee, enrapture, ensheathe, enswathe, entablature, entamebae, entamoebae, entangle, entente, enterable, enterocoele, enterogastrone, enterokinase, enthrone, enthuse, enthymeme, entomofaunae, entrecote, entwine, enucleate, enumerate, enumerative, enunciate, enwreathe, epaulette, epazote, ephorate, epicuticle, epidote, epigrammatize, epiphyte, episcopate, epistle, epistome, epistrophe, epistyle, epithelialize, epithelize, epitome, epitomise, epitomize, epitope, epizoite, equate, equestrienne, equilibrate, equivocate, eradiate, eradicate, erectable, erectile, erective, eremite, ergate, ergative, ergotamine, eroticize, erotize, erstwhile, eructate, erudite, eruptible, eruptive, erythorbate, erythrite, erythrocyte, erythrosine, escalate, escheatable, escritoire, essentialize, essonite, establishable, esterase, esthete, estimable, estimative, estivate, estrange, estrone, estuarine, etagere, etamine, etape, eternalize, eterne, eternise, eternize, ethane, ethanolamine, ethene, etherealize … and 138 more

All words that fit ETE
Round 6FTAL43 words fit

starts with F and ends with L, with T then A in between, in that order.

factual, fastball, fatal, festival, fetal, fictional, football, fraternal, frontal, functional, fundamental, factional, factorial, fanatical, fantail, fantastical, fatidical, fenestral, fentanyl, festal, fetial, firmamental, fishtail, floricultural, fluctuational, foetal, fontal, fontanel, footfall, footwall, forestal, forestall, forestaysail, forestial, foundational, foxtail, fractal, fractional, fragmental, fratricidal, frictional, futural, futurological

All words that fit FTAL
Round 7HOSE68 words fit

starts with H and ends with E, with O then S in between, in that order.

henhouse, hoarse, hollandaise, honeysuckle, horoscope, horse, hose, hospice, hospitable, hostage, hostile, hothouse, house, housewife, hydrolase, hypotensive, hypotenuse, hagioscope, hamulose, harborside, hardnose, harmonise, hawknose, heliopause, hemicellulose, heptose, hexokinase, hexosaminidase, hexose, hobbyhorse, hodoscope, hognose, hoise, holystone, homesite, homogenise, hooknose, hornstone, hornswoggle, horsehide, horselike, horseshoe, horste, hosepipe, hospitalise, hospitalize, housebroke, housemate, humoresque, hyaluronidase, hydrocortisone, hydrogenase, hydrolysate, hydromedusae, hydrosere, hydrospace, hydrosphere, hydroxylase, hyoscine, hyoscyamine, hyperresponsive, hypophysectomize, hyposensitize, hypostatize, hypostome, hypostyle, hypothenuse, hypothesize

All words that fit HOSE
Round 8TUET39 words fit

starts with T and ends with T, with U then E in between, in that order.

thunderbolt, toughest, tournament, truest, trumpet, turbulent, turret, tabouret, tautest, tegument, thankfullest, thermoluminescent, thoroughest, thrummiest, toquet, touchiest, tourniquet, traducement, tranquilest, tranquillest, translucent, trebuchet, trebucket, triboluminescent, troubleshoot, troubleshot, troutiest, truculent, trustiest, trustworthiest, tubbiest, tucket, tuffet, tuftiest, tumescent, turbojet, turfiest, turgent, turgescent

All words that fit TUET
Round 9AOISH5 words fit

starts with A and ends with H, with O then I then S in between, in that order.

abolish, accomplish, admonish, actorish, astonish

All words that fit AOISH
Round 10PIMRY12 words fit

starts with P and ends with Y, with I then M then R in between, in that order.

parliamentary, preliminary, primarily, primary, pigmentary, planimetrically, polarimetry, postprimary, poststimulatory, preliminarily, preprimary, primordially

All words that fit PIMRY

Questions

What were the answers to Wordspine #23?
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.