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Wordspine #35

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Answers for puzzle #35. 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 BN. A word like baa looks close but doesn't count — it starts with B but ends with A, not N. Order is the whole game.

Pro — four levels

Level 1BN349 words fit

starts with B and ends with N.

baboon, backgammon, bacon, badminton, bagman, ballon, balloon, ban, bandwagon, barbarian, bargain, barman, barn, baron, barren, baseman, basin, bassoon, batman, baton, beacon, bean, beaten, bedpan, bedridden, been, began, begin, begun, bellman … and 319 more

All words that fit BN

Scoring on this level: BAN = 5 points, BACKGAMMON = 12 points.

Level 2SOS2779 words fit

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

sailboats, sailors, salutations, sanctimonious, santos, sarcoidosis, sarcophagus, scallions, scallops, scenarios, scholarships, schools, scissors, scoliosis, scones, scoops, scopes, scores, scorpions, scotches, scots, scoundrels, scouts, scrolls, seasons, seconds, sections, sectors, selections, senators … and 2749 more

All words that fit SOS

Scoring on this level: SCOTS = 9 points, SANCTIMONIOUS = 17 points.

Level 3DING900 words fit

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

dabbling, dallying, damaging, damning, dancing, dangling, daring, darling, dashing, dating, daunting, dawdling, dawning, daydreaming, dazzling, deafening, dealing, debating, debilitating, debriefing, decaying, deceiving, deciding, deciphering, declaring, declining, decomposing, decorating, dedicating, defacing … and 870 more

All words that fit DING

Scoring on this level: DARING = 12 points, DEBILITATING = 18 points.

Level 4ENTED60 words fit

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

eliminated, emancipated, enacted, enchanted, encountered, encrusted, encrypted, enlightened, enlisted, entered, entertained, enthralled, enthused, enticed, entitled, entrenched, entrusted, entwined, excommunicated, exonerated, experimented, exterminated, elongated, emanated, embryonated, emendated, encapsulated, encysted, endited, enervated … and 30 more

All words that fit ENTED

Scoring on this level: ENACTED = 15 points, EXCOMMUNICATED = 22 points.

Ranks on this day

  • Beginner0
  • Good Start25
  • Moving Up55
  • Good92
  • Solid153
  • Nice232
  • Great318
  • Genius427
  • Perfect610
Play this Pro day

Sprint — ten rounds

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

Round 1FA77 words fit

starts with F and ends with A.

fajita, farina, fauna, fedora, fella, feta, fiesta, flea, flora, formula, fuchsia, facia, facula, faena, falbala, fanega, fanegada, fanga, fantasia, farinha, fascia, fashionista, fatshedera, fatwa, fava, favela, favella, fazenda, fecula, feijoa, felucca, femora, fenestra, feria, fermata, ferula, feterita, fibrilla, fibroma, fibromata, fibrosarcoma, fibrosarcomata, fibula, fila, filaria, fimbria, fioritura, fistula, flabella, flagella, floribunda, florilegia, flota, flotilla, focaccia, folia, fontina, fora, foramina, foraminifera, forsythia, fossa, fovea, foveola, fraena, frambesia, fraxinella, freesia, frena, frenula, fritillaria, frittata, frusta, fulcra, funkia, furcraea, furcula

All words that fit FA
Round 2SK202 words fit

starts with S and ends with K.

sack, sank, sark, schmuck, schoolwork, scrapbook, seek, setback, shack, shamrock, shank, shark, sherlock, shipwreck, shock, shook, shriek, shrink, shrunk, shtick, shuck, shylock, sick, sidekick, sidewalk, silk, sink, skulk, skunk, slack, sleek, sleepwalk, slick, slink, smack, smirk, smock, snack, sneak, snook, snowbank, snuck, soak, sock, sook, spank, spark, speak, speck, spook, spunk, sputnik, squawk, squeak, stack, stalk, stark, steak, stick, stink, stock, stork, storybook, streak, struck, stuck, stunk, suck, sulk, sunblock, sunk, swank, salesclerk, saltwork, samek, sandbank, sanjak, sawbuck, scatback, schlock, schnook, schoolbook, schrik, schtick, schtik, screak, scrollwork, sculk, seacock, seamark, seasick, seatwork, selamlik, shaddock, shagbark, shashlick, shashlik, shaslik, sheepshank, sheik, shelduck, shellack, shellback, shellwork, shirk, shlock, shmuck, shnook, shoeblack, shoepack, shoptalk, shrank, shtik, shuttlecock, sidetrack, silverback, singlestick, sitzmark, sjambok, sketchbook, skewback, skink, skipjack, skyhook, skyjack, skylark, skywalk, slank, slapjack, slapstick, slickrock, slopwork, slotback, slunk, smeek, smerk, smokejack, smokestack, snapback, snark, sneck, snick, snowpack, soapbark, softback, solonchak, songbook, souk, soundtrack, sourcebook, soymilk, spacewalk, spadework, spatterdock, spellcheck, spelunk, spick, spik, springbok, stagestruck, stank, starstruck, steek, steelwork, steenbok, steeplejack, steinbok, stickleback, stickwork, stirk, stonework, stook, stopbank, stopcock, streek, strick, stringybark, strook, stuccowork, studbook, studwork, stylebook, subblock, subclerk, subnetwork, subtask, sunback, sundeck, sunstruck, superbank, superblock, superflack, superjock, superslick, superstock, superthick, supplejack, suslik, swayback, sweepback, swink, switchback

All words that fit SK
Round 3UME82 words fit

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

ultimate, umpire, uncomfortable, underestimate, undermine, unemployable, unfathomable, unimaginative, unmentionable, unmistakable, unwelcome, ugsome, ultimogeniture, ultrafeminine, ultramarine, ultramasculine, ultramicroscope, ultramicrotome, ultraminiature, ultramontane, ultrasimple, umangite, umbellate, umbilicate, umbonate, umbrae, umbrage, umbrette, umpirage, unamenable, unamiable, unassimilable, unawesome, unclimbable, uncombative, uncommunicable, uncommunicative, uncompassionate, uncompetitive, uncompromisable, unconformable, uncrumple, undemonstrative, underemphasize, undeterminable, unfeminine, unhandsome, unimaginable, unimpeachable, unimplementable, unimportance, unimpressive, uninformative, unmade, unmake, unmanageable, unmarketable, unmasculine, unmatchable, unmeasurable, unmemorable, unmingle, unmitre, unmixable, unmovable, unmuffle, unmuzzle, unnameable, unperformable, unprogrammable, unreclaimable, unredeemable, unremarkable, unremovable, unscramble, unsportsmanlike, untamable, untame, unwholesome, uptime, urochrome, username

All words that fit UME
Round 4HUG78 words fit

starts with H and ends with G, with U in between, in that order.

hallucinating, hamburg, harbouring, hauling, haunting, honouring, hounding, housecleaning, housekeeping, housewarming, housing, huffing, hug, hugging, hulking, humbling, humbug, humiliating, humming, humoring, humping, hung, hunting, hurling, hurrying, hurting, hurtling, habituating, hachuring, haircutting, hamstrung, handcuffing, haranguing, harrumphing, harumphing, headhunting, headquartering, heartburning, hemagglutinating, hiccoughing, hiccuping, hiccupping, hocusing, hocussing, homburg, housebreaking, houseling, houselling, housesitting, huckstering, huddling, hulling, hulloaing, hulloing, humanising, humanizing, humbugging, humidifying, hummocking, humouring, humphing, hunching, hungering, hunkering, hurdling, hurrahing, hurraying, husbanding, hushing, husking, hustling, hutching, hutting, huzzahing, huzzaing, hyperfunctioning, hyperimmunizing, hyperstimulating

All words that fit HUG
Round 5PIL362 words fit

starts with P and ends with L, with I in between, in that order.

pail, painful, partial, pathological, pencil, perennial, peril, peripheral, pharmaceutical, philosophical, physical, physiological, pill, pinball, pistol, pitiful, pivotal, political, ponytail, potential, practical, prejudicial, premarital, presidential, pretrial, prevail, primal, primordial, principal, processional, prodigal, professional, proportional, prosecutorial, proverbial, provisional, psychological, pupil, puritanical, paginal, pailful, pailsful, palatial, paleoanthropological, paleobiological, paleobotanical, paleoecological, paleogeographical, paleographical, paleontological, paleopathological, paleozoological, pallial, palynological, panbroil, panegyrical, pantheistical, pantisocratical, pantropical, papergirl, paraboloidal, paradisaical, paradisal, paradisiacal, paradisial, paradisical, paradoxical, paramedical, paranoidal, parapodial, paraprofessional, parapsychological, parasitical, parasiticidal, parasitological, paratactical, parboil, parenthetical, parietal, parimutuel, parochial, parricidal, participational, participial, pasquil, passional, pastil, patagial, pathetical, pathophysiological, patriarchal, patricidal, patrilineal, patrimonial, patristical, pedagogical, pedicel, pedimental, pedological, pelagial, penial, penicil, penitential, penological, pensil, pentobarbital, perceptional, pericardial, perichondral, pericranial, peridial, perigeal, perihelial, perikaryal, perinatal, perineal, periodical, periodontal, periosteal, perissodactyl, peristomial, perithecial, peritoneal, permutational, perorational, peroxisomal, perspectival, perturbational, pestilential, petechial, petrochemical, petrographical, petrological, phantasmagorical, pharisaical, pharmacognostical, pharmacological, pharmacopeial, pharmacopoeial, phenobarbital, phenological, phenomenological, phenotypical, phial, philanthropical, philological, philomel, phonological, phosphatidyl, photobiological, photochemical, photogeological, photomechanical, phraseological, phrenological, phthisical, phycological, physicochemical, physiognomical, physiographical, physiopathological, phytochemical, phytogeographical, phytopathological, phytosociological, pial, pibal, pical, pickadil, pickerel, pictorial, picul, piecemeal, pigtail, pimpernel, pineal, pinitol, pinnal, pintail, pinwheel, pipal, pipeful, piperonal, piratical, piscatorial, piscinal, pistil, pitcherful, pitchersful, pitfall, pixel, plaintful, planetesimal, planetoidal, planetological, plastidial, plastisol, platitudinal, playbill, playgirl, plentiful, plical, plimsol, plimsoll, pluvial, poetical, poitrel, polemical, pollical, polynomial, polyribosomal, polytheistical, polyvinyl, pomological, pontifical, pontil, popliteal, populational, positional, possessional, postaxial, postbiblical, postclassical, postcoital, postcolonial, postcranial, postdepositional, postexperimental, postglacial, posthospital, postimperial, postinaugural, postindustrial, postmarital, postmedieval, postmillennial, postnuptial, postorbital, postpositional, postprandial … and 122 more

All words that fit PIL
Round 6SIRS706 words fit

starts with S and ends with S, with I then R in between, in that order.

sailors, sapphires, scissors, scriptures, seizures, seminars, seniors, shirtless, shirts, shivers, shoplifters, sideburns, signatures, similarities, singers, sinners, sirens, sirs, sisters, sitters, skirmishes, skirts, slippers, smithereens, smithers, snickers, snipers, soldiers, souvenirs, spiders, spirals, spirits, splinters, sprinklers, squirrels, squirts, stairs, stickers, stirs, strippers, suitors, superiors, survivors, sweatshirts, swimmers, swingers, sabirs, saccharimeters, sacrificers, sadirons, sailboardings, sailboards, sailboaters, sailers, sailplaners, salesgirls, salinometers, salivators, salliers, saltiers, saltires, salutiferous, samphires, sanctifiers, sandpipers, sanguinarias, sanitarians, sanitaries, sanitariums, sanitoriums, sansevierias, santirs, saponifiers, satires, satirises, satirists, satirizes, satisfactoriness, satisfactorinesses, sautoires, sautoirs, saviors, saviours, sawtimbers, saxifrages, scarifiers, sceneshifters, schillers, schipperkes, schizocarps, schizophrenes, schizophrenias, schizophrenics, schlockmeisters, schoolgirls, schoolmistress, schoolmistresses, scimetars, scimitars, scimiters, scintigraphies, scintillators, scintillometers, sciroccos, scirrhous, scirrhus, scirrhuses, scissortails, scissures, sciurids, sciurines, screenwriters, screwdrivers, scribblers, scribers, scrimmagers, scrimpers, scrimshanders, scripters, scriptwriters, scriveners, scrutineers, scrutinizers, seabirds, secularizers, seigneuries, seigneurs, seigniorages, seigniories, seigniors, seignorages, seignories, seiners, seisers, seismograms, seismographers, seismographies, seismographs, seismometers, seismometries, seisors, seisures, seizers, seizors, seleniferous, semiabstractions, semiaridities, semibreves, semicircles, semiconductors, semidarkness, semidarknesses, semideserts, semidiameters, semidocumentaries, semidwarfs, semidwarves, semigroups, semiliterates, semilustrous, seminarians, seminaries, seminarists, seminiferous, semiparasites, semipermeabilities, semiporcelains, semipornographies, semiprecious, semiprofessionals, semipros, semiquavers, semireligious, semiretirements, semisubmersibles, semitrailers, semitropics, semiworks, sempiternities, seniorities, sensitizers, sensitometers, sensitometries, sequiturs, sericultures, sericulturists, serigraphers, serigraphies, serigraphs, sermonizers, serviceberries, servicers, servitors, sesquicarbonates, sesquicentenaries, sesquiterpenes, shairds, shairns, shanghaiers, shellfires, shellfisheries, shickers, shielders, shiers, shifters, shikarees, shikaris, shikars, shikkers, shimmers, shiners, shinglers, shinneries, shinplasters, shipboards, shipbuilders, shipfitters, shipmasters, shipowners, shippers, shipworms, shipwrecks, shipwrights, shipyards, shires, shirkers, shirks, shirrings, shirrs, shirtdress, shirtdresses, shirtfronts, shirtings, shirtmakers, shirtsleeves, shirttails, shirtwaists, shivarees, shiverers, shopgirls … and 466 more

All words that fit SIRS
Round 7BOSY53 words fit

starts with B and ends with Y, with O then S in between, in that order.

biochemistry, biopsy, bosomy, bossy, boysenberry, backwoodsy, barbarously, beauteously, bellicosely, bellicosity, bibulously, bigamously, biliously, bioassay, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, biosafety, bioscopy, biosocially, biostratigraphy, biosynthetically, blasphemously, blepharoplasty, bloodlessly, bloodthirstily, bloodthirsty, blossomy, blousily, blousy, blowsily, blowsy, boastfully, bobstay, bodaciously, boisterously, bolshy, bombastically, bookishly, boorishly, bootlessly, bosky, bossily, bottomlessly, boundlessly, bounteously, bourgeoisify, bousy, boyishly, bronchoscopy, brosy, bulbously, bumptiously, burglariously

All words that fit BOSY
Round 8RING1248 words fit

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

racing, racketeering, racking, radiating, rafting, ragging, raging, raiding, railing, railroading, raining, raising, rallying, rambling, ranging, ranking, ranting, raping, raring, rating, rationalizing, ratting, rattling, raving, ravishing, reaching, reacting, reading, realizing, rearing, rearranging, reasoning, reassigning, reassuring, rebelling, rebuilding, recalling, recanting, receding, receiving, reciting, reckoning, reclaiming, reclining, recognizing, recommending, reconciling, reconnecting, recording, recovering, recreating, recruiting, recuperating, recurring, recycling, redecorating, redeeming, reducing, reeking, reeling, referencing, referring, refining, reflecting, refreshing, refueling, refusing, regaining, regarding, registering, regretting, rehashing, rehearsing, reigning, reinstating, reinventing, rejecting, rejoicing, rejuvenating, relapsing, relating, relaxing, releasing, relieving, relinquishing, reliving, relying, remaining, remembering, reminding, remitting, remodelling, removing, reneging, renewing, renovating, renting, reopening, reorganizing, repairing, repeating, replacing, replaying, replicating, reporting, representing, reprogramming, requesting, requiring, rescuing, researching, resembling, resenting, reserving, resetting, residing, resigning, resisting, resolving, respecting, responding, resting, restoring, restraining, restructuring, resulting, retaining, retaliating, rethinking, retiring, retreating, retrieving, returning, reuniting, revealing, reveling, reviewing, revising, reviving, revoking, revolting, revolving, rewarding, rewriting, ridding, riding, rifling, rigging, ring, ringing, rinsing, rioting, ripping, rippling, rising, risking, riveting, roaming, roaring, roasting, robbing, rocking, rolling, romancing, romping, rooming, rooting, rotating, rotting, roughing, rounding, rousing, routing, roving, rowing, rubbing, ruining, ruling, rumbling, rummaging, running, rushing, rutting, rabbeting, rabbiting, rabbling, racemizing, racewalking, racketing, radding, raddling, radicalising, radicalizing, radicating, radiographing, radioing, radiolabeling, radiolabelling, raffling, ragouting, rainmaking, rainwashing, raking, ralphing, ramifying, ramming, rampaging, ramparting, ramping, ramrodding, ranching, randomizing, rankling, ransacking, ransoming, rappeling, rappelling, rapping, rapturing, rarefying, rarifying, rasing, rasping, rassling, rataplanning, ratcheting, ratifying, ratiocinating, rationalising, rationing, ratooning, rattening, rattooning, ravaging, raveling, ravelling, ravening, ravining, rawhiding, raxing … and 1008 more

All words that fit RING
Round 9PSTIE79 words fit

starts with P and ends with E, with S then T then I in between, in that order.

pastime, perspective, pestilence, positive, prestige, procrastinate, prospective, prostitute, parasiticide, parasitise, parasitize, passementerie, pasteurise, pasteurize, pastiche, pastie, pastille, pedestrianize, persecutive, personative, pesticide, philistine, phosphatide, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatize, phosphocreatine, phosphofructokinase, phosphorylative, photopositive, photosensitive, photosensitize, photosynthesize, physostigmine, pinstripe, pistillate, plasticene, plasticine, plasticize, plastique, plastoquinone, polycrystalline, postcardlike, postcollegiate, postdeadline, postdive, postdivestiture, postdivorce, posteruptive, postexercise, postexperience, postfire, postiche, postindependence, postique, postliterate, postoperative, postpositive, poststrike, predestinate, predestine, prepositive, prescriptive, presentative, preservative, presterilize, prestrike, presumptive, pristine, prognosticate, prognosticative, proscriptive, proselytise, proselytize, prostie, proustite, psittacine, psychoactive, pulsatile

All words that fit PSTIE
Round 10WOING70 words fit

starts with W and ends with G, with O then I then N in between, in that order.

wallowing, welcoming, whooping, whopping, withholding, womanizing, wondering, wooing, wording, working, worming, worrying, worshipping, wounding, waggoning, wagoning, wainscoting, wainscotting, walloping, wantoning, warehousing, warmongering, watchdogging, waterboarding, waterflooding, waterfowling, waterlogging, waterproofing, waygoing, weaponing, weatherboarding, weatherproofing, wheelbarrowing, whistleblowing, wholesaling, whomping, whoofing, whooshing, whoring, widowing, wildfowling, willowing, windowing, windrowing, winnowing, wobbling, wolfing, womaning, womanising, wonning, wonting, woodcarving, woodcutting, wooding, woodshedding, woodworking, woofing, woolgathering, woopsing, wooshing, worldling, worriting, worsening, worshiping, worsting, worthing, wotting, wowing, wrongdoing, wronging

All words that fit WOING

Questions

What were the answers to Wordspine #35?
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.