Wordspine #38
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Answers for puzzle #38. 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 SR. A word like sabbath looks close but doesn't count — it starts with S but ends with H, not R. Order is the whole game.
Pro — four levels
starts with S and ends with R.
saber, sadder, safer, sailor, salamander, saltwater, sandbar, sandpaper, satyr, saucer, saver, savior, saviour, savor, savour, sawyer, sayer, scalper, scanner, scar, scarier, scatter, scavenger, scepter, schiller, schnauzer, scholar, schoolteacher, schooner, scissor … and 1322 more
All words that fit SRScoring on this level: SCAR = 6 points, SCHOOLTEACHER = 15 points.
starts with F and ends with G, with N in between, in that order.
facing, factoring, fading, failing, fainting, faking, falling, fang, fanning, fantasizing, farthing, fascinating, fasting, fathering, fattening, fawning, fearing, feasting, feathering, featuring, feeding, feeling, felling, fencing, fending, festering, fibbing, fiddling, fielding, fighting … and 482 more
All words that fit FNGScoring on this level: FANG = 8 points, FANTASIZING = 15 points.
starts with C and ends with S, with A then I in between, in that order.
cabinets, cabins, calamitous, calculations, calories, campaigns, canaries, cancellations, candidates, candies, candlesticks, canines, canisters, cannabis, cannibals, capabilities, capitalists, capitals, captains, captives, carcinogens, cardinals, caritas, carnivorous, carriages, carriers, carries, carvings, casings, casinos … and 1459 more
All words that fit CAISScoring on this level: CABINS = 12 points, CANCELLATIONS = 19 points.
starts with A and ends with S, with T then I then O in between, in that order.
abductions, abortions, accommodations, accusations, acquisitions, actions, activators, additions, affections, allegations, alterations, ambitions, ambitious, antibiotics, antibodies, applications, appropriations, artichokes, aspirations, associations, assumptions, atrocious, attentions, auditions, abbreviations, abdications, aberrations, abjections, abjurations, ablations … and 360 more
All words that fit ATIOSScoring on this level: ACTIONS = 15 points, ACCOMMODATIONS = 22 points.
Ranks on this day
- Beginner0
- Good Start26
- Moving Up57
- Good95
- Solid158
- Nice240
- Great328
- Genius441
- Perfect630
Sprint — ten rounds
Sprint can't be replayed, so this is the record of the day.
starts with B and ends with Y.
baby, badly, baggy, bailey, bakery, balcony, ballsy, baloney, banality, bankruptcy, barely, barley, basically, battery, batty, bawdy, bay, bayberry, beautifully, beauty, beefy, beery, bellboy, belly, bendy, benny, berry, betray, bey, bialy, bibliography, bigamy, bigotry, billy, binary, biochemistry, biography, biologically, biology, biopsy, birthday, bitchy, bitsy, bitty, blackberry, blankly, blarney, blasphemy, blatantly, blimey, blindly, blissfully, blithely, bloody, blotchy, blueberry, blurry, bobby, bodily, body, boldly, bony, booby, boogey, booty, bosomy, bossy, botany, bouncy, boundary, bounty, bowery, boy, boysenberry, brandy, bravely, bravery, breezy, brewery, bribery, briefly, brightly, brilliantly, briskly, broody, brotherly, brumby, brutality, brutally, bubbly, buddy, buffy, buggy, bulky, bully, bumpy, bunny, burglary, burgundy, burley, burly, bury, busboy, busty, busy, busybody, butterfly, buttery, buy, bacillary, backcountry, backhandedly, backstay, backstory, backwardly, backwoodsy, bacterially, bactericidally, bacteriologically, bacteriology, bacteriophagy, baddy, badgerly, bafflingly, baffy, baggily, bairnly, baldly, baldy, balefully, balkily, balky, balladry, ballistically, bally, balmily, balmy, balneology, banally, banditry, bandy, baneberry, banefully, bankability, bankerly, banteringly, banty, baptismally, baptistery, baptistry, barbarically, barbarity, barbarously, barberry, bardolatry, barefacedly, barfly, barky, barmy, barny, barometrically, barometry, baronetcy, barony, baroquely, barratry, barrenly, barretry, basally, basely, bashfully, basicity, basify, basilary, basipetally, basketry, bassly, bassy, bastardly, bastardy, batboy, bathetically, bathymetrically, bathymetry, baulky, bawdily, bawdry, bawty, beachboy, beachy, beadily, beady, beaky, beamily, beamishly, beamy, beanery, bearability, bearably, bearberry, bearishly, beastly, beatifically, beatify, beauteously, beautify, becomingly, bedirty, beechy, beefily, befittingly, beggarly, beggary, begrudgingly, beguilingly, behaviorally, beigy, belady, belatedly, belay, belfry, believability, believably, bellicosely, bellicosity, belligerency, belligerently, beltway, bemusedly, benday, benedictory, beneficently, beneficially, beneficiary, benevolently, benightedly, benignancy, benignantly, benignity, benignly … and 346 more
All words that fit BYstarts with C and ends with R.
cabdriver, caesar, calculator, calendar, calender, caliber, caller, calmer, camcorder, camper, cancer, candor, canter, caper, capper, car, carburetor, cardiovascular, career, caregiver, caretaker, carpenter, carr, carrier, carter, carver, cashier, castor, catcher, cater, caterer, caterpillar, catheter, cauliflower, cavalier, caviar, cedar, cellar, cellular, censor, center, centimeter, chair, challenger, chamber, chancellor, chandelier, chandler, chapter, character, charger, charmer, charter, chaser, chatter, chauffeur, cheaper, cheater, checker, cheddar, cheer, cheerleader, cheeseburger, chevalier, chigger, chipper, chiropractor, choir, choker, chopper, chowder, cider, cigar, cinder, cinnabar, cipher, circular, clapper, classier, cleaner, cleanser, clear, clearer, clever, clicker, cliffhanger, clincher, clipper, closer, clover, clunker, clutter, coaster, cobbler, cocksucker, colder, collaborator, collar, collector, collier, color, colour, comer, comforter, commander, commentator, commissioner, commoner, communicator, compactor, competitor, composer, compressor, computer, concealer, concur, conditioner, condor, conductor, confer, confessor, conner, connoisseur, conquer, consider, conspirator, constrictor, consumer, container, contender, contractor, contributor, controller, conveyor, cooker, cooler, cooper, coordinator, copier, copper, copter, cor, coriander, corker, corner, coroner, corridor, cougar, councillor, counsellor, counselor, counter, counteroffer, courier, cover, cower, coworker, cozier, cracker, crapper, crasher, crater, crazier, creamer, creator, crier, critter, croaker, croupier, crowbar, cruiser, crusader, crusher, cucumber, cur, curator, customer, cuter, cutler, cutter, cylinder, cypher, caber, cabinetmaker, cackler, cadaster, cadaver, cadger, cager, cagier, cahier, cajoler, cakewalker, cakier, calamander, calamar, calcar, calcspar, calenderer, calibrator, caliper, calker, calligrapher, calliper, callower, calorimeter, caloyer, calumniator, calypter, camber, cameleer, campaigner, camphor, campier, campylobacter, canalicular, canaller, canceler, canceller, candider, candleholder, candlelighter, candlepower, candler, candlesnuffer, candour, canephor, caner, canicular, canister, canker, canner, cannier, cannister, cannoneer, cannular, cantilever, cantor, canvaser, canvasser … and 696 more
All words that fit CRstarts with C and ends with E, with N in between, in that order.
caffeine, calzone, canape, candidate, candle, cane, canine, canoe, carbuncle, carmine, carnie, carnivore, censure, centerpiece, centre, challenge, champagne, chance, change, chanteuse, chaperone, chenille, chimpanzee, chlorine, cholinesterase, chronicle, circumference, circumstance, clandestine, clarence, cleanse, clearance, clementine, clientele, clone, clothesline, cocaine, coincide, coincidence, colchicine, collarbone, cologne, colonnade, combine, comeuppance, commence, commendable, commensurate, commonplace, commune, communicate, communique, compassionate, compensate, competence, comprehensive, concede, conceivable, conceive, concentrate, concierge, concise, conclave, conclude, conclusive, concourse, concrete, condone, conducive, cone, confederate, conference, confidante, confide, confidence, confine, confluence, confuse, congratulate, conjecture, conjugate, conjure, conscience, consecutive, consequence, conservative, conserve, considerable, considerate, consigliere, console, consolidate, conspire, constable, constitute, constructive, consulate, consume, consummate, contaminate, contemplate, continuance, continue, contribute, contrite, convene, convenience, converge, converse, convertible, convince, coordinate, cornerstone, correspondence, countenance, countryside, crane, credence, cringe, cuisine, cyanide, cyclone, cabezone, cachinnate, cadaverine, cadence, calamine, calcimine, calcine, calenture, calumniate, calycine, campagne, campanile, campanulate, camphene, camphine, canaille, canalise, canalize, cancelable, cancellable, candescence, candidature, canebrake, caneware, cangue, cannibalise, cannibalize, cannie, cannonade, cannulae, canoeable, canonise, canonize, canoodle, cantabile, cantaloupe, cantatrice, canticle, cantillate, cantle, canulae, canulate, canvaslike, canzone, capacitance, caponize, caprine, capstone, carabine, carabiniere, carbine, carbonade, carbonate, carbonize, carbonnade, cardinalate, carinae, carinate, carline, carmagnole, carminative, carnage, carnallite, carnitine, carnotite, carotene, carronade, cartoonlike, caruncle, caseinate, caserne, catarrhine, catecholamine, catenae, catenate, cauline, cavatine, cayenne, ceinture, celandine, cellophane, cementite, cenacle, cenobite, cenote, cense, censurable, centare, centerline, centiare, centigrade, centile, centime, centipede, centralise, centralize, centrifuge, centriole, centromere, centrosome, centuple, cephaloridine, cervine, cetane, chaconne, chaine, chalcogenide, chalone, chameleonlike, chancre, chandelle, changeable, channelize, chantage, chanterelle, chaperonage, chatelaine, chatoyance … and 465 more
All words that fit CNEstarts with S and ends with G, with H in between, in that order.
scheduling, scheming, schmoozing, schooling, scorching, scratching, screeching, searching, shading, shadowing, shag, shagging, shaking, shaming, shaping, sharing, sharking, sharpening, shattering, shaving, shebang, shedding, shelling, shifting, shimmering, shindig, shining, shipping, shirking, shitting, shivering, shocking, shooting, shoplifting, shopping, shouting, shoveling, shoving, showering, showing, shrieking, shrinking, shrug, shrugging, shuffling, shushing, shutting, sighing, sighting, siphoning, sketching, slashing, slaughtering, slithering, smashing, smooching, smothering, snatching, something, soothing, splashing, squashing, squishing, stitching, straightening, stretching, sunbathing, switching, saccharifying, sandhog, sandwiching, sashaying, sashing, scarphing, scathing, schematizing, schilling, schismatizing, schlepping, schlumping, schmeering, schmoosing, schnorkeling, schoolbag, schussing, scotching, scouthering, scraiching, scraighing, scrimshawing, scrooching, scrootching, scrunching, scutching, scything, seething, semaphoring, sepulchering, sepulchring, shackling, shadowboxing, shafting, shallowing, shambling, shamming, shammying, shamoying, shampooing, shanghaiing, shanking, shantung, sharecropping, sharping, sharpshooting, shauling, shaveling, shawing, shawling, sheafing, shealing, shearing, shearling, sheathing, sheaving, sheening, sheepdog, sheepherding, sheepshearing, sheering, sheeting, shellacking, sheltering, shelving, shending, shepherding, shewing, shielding, shieling, shikarring, shilling, shimming, shimmying, shingling, shinneying, shinning, shinnying, shipbuilding, shipwrecking, shirring, shirting, shivareeing, shlepping, shlumping, shmoozing, shoaling, shoehorning, shoeing, shoestring, shog, shogging, shooing, shooling, shoring, shortchanging, shortcoming, shortcutting, shortening, shorting, shotgunning, shotting, shouldering, shovelling, showboating, showcasing, showring, showstopping, shredding, shrewing, shrieving, shrilling, shrimping, shrining, shriveling, shrivelling, shriving, shroffing, shrouding, shucking, shuddering, shunning, shunpiking, shunting, shuting, shutterbug, shuttering, shuttlecocking, shuttling, shying, shylocking, sightseeing, silhouetting, silversmithing, skirmishing, skreeghing, skreighing, slathering, slaveholding, sledgehammering, sleighing, sleuthing, slighting, sloshing, slouching, sloughing, slushing, smallholding, smirching, smoothening, smoothing, smutching, snapshotting, snitching, snowshoeing, soochong, soothsaying, sophisticating, souchong, soughing, southing, spearfishing, spearheading, speechifying, spellchecking, sphering, sploshing, splotching, sportfishing, spotlighting, squelching, squinching … and 45 more
All words that fit SHGstarts with E and ends with T, with G in between, in that order.
eggplant, eight, elegant, encouragement, endangerment, engagement, enlightenment, entomologist, escargot, exigent, extravagant, eyesight, eagerest, eaglet, earthlight, ecclesiologist, ecologist, edgiest, effulgent, egest, egoist, egotist, egret, electrologist, electromagnet, electrophysiologist, elegist, elegit, embourgeoisement, embranglement, embryologist, emergent, emigrant, endocrinologist, engirt, englut, engorgement, engraft, engraftment, engrossment, engulfment, enlargement, enologist, entanglement, enzymologist, epidemiologist, epigrammatist, epigraphist, epistemologist, ergonomist, ergot, escapologist, estrangement, ethnologist, ethnomethodologist, ethnomusicologist, ethologist, etymologist, eugenicist, eugenist, eulogist, evangelist, exegetist, exobiologist, extinguishment, eyebright
All words that fit EGTstarts with B and ends with T, with A then S in between, in that order.
backseat, backstreet, baddest, ballast, baptist, basement, basket, bassett, bassinet, beast, bigamist, blast, boast, brainiest, bratwurst, bravest, breakfast, breast, broadcast, babiest, babysat, babysit, backcast, backlist, backmost, backrest, backset, backswept, bacteriologist, bacteriostat, baggiest, bairnliest, baldest, balkiest, balladist, balloonist, ballsiest, balmiest, bandiest, banishment, banjoist, barest, barghest, barguest, barkiest, barmiest, barniest, barrenest, basalt, basest, basinet, basset, bassist, bassoonist, bast, battiest, baulkiest, bawdiest, bawsunt, beachiest, beadiest, beakiest, beamiest, beastliest, beautifulest, bedfast, behaviorist, bimetallist, biosystematist, blackest, blacklist, blandest, blandishment, blankest, blastiest, blastment, blastocyst, bleakest, bleariest, blepharoplast, bombast, botanist, braggest, braggiest, braillist, brakiest, brambliest, branchiest, branniest, brashest, brashiest, brassart, brassiest, brattiest, brawest, brawliest, brawniest, breadbasket, breathiest, broadest, broadsheet, bypast
All words that fit BASTstarts with D and ends with D, with V then E in between, in that order.
deceived, delivered, depraved, deprived, deserved, devastated, developed, deviated, deviled, devised, devoted, devoured, disapproved, discovered, disheveled, dissolved, diverted, divided, divorced, divulged, davened, deactivated, deaved, decurved, deleaved, deleveraged, delved, denervated, derivatized, derived, desilvered, devaluated, devalued, deveined, develed, devested, devilled, devitalized, devitrified, devocalized, devoiced, devolved, disadvantaged, disavowed, disbelieved, disfavored, dishevelled, disinvested, disinvited, disproved, dissaved, disserved, dissevered, disvalued, divagated, divaricated, divebombed, dived, diverged, diversified, divested, dividend, divined, divinised, divinized, divvied, dovened, dovetailed, driveled, drivelled, droved
All words that fit DVEDstarts with M and ends with D, with U then E in between, in that order.
malnourished, maneuvered, manicured, manipulated, manufactured, masturbated, matured, mauled, measured, miscalculated, misconstrued, misguided, misjudged, misunderstand, misunderstood, mounted, mourned, mouthed, muffled, mugged, mulled, multiplied, mumbled, murdered, muscled, mutated, mutilated, maculated, maculed, maladjusted, malfunctioned, mandamused, manoeuvred, manumitted, manured, marauded, masculinised, masculinized, masqueraded, matriculated, maturated, maundered, mealymouthed, medullated, menstruated, meoued, mercurated, miaoued, miauled, microencapsulated, microminiaturized, micturated, miniaturized, minuend, minuted, misadjusted, misarticulated, misattributed, misbuttoned, miscomputed, misconducted, miscounted, miscued, misdoubted, miseducated, misevaluated, misfocused, misfocussed, misfunctioned, misgauged, misguessed, mispronounced, misquoted, misrouted, misruled, missounded, missuited, mistouched, mistrusted, mistuned, mistutored, misused, misvalued, modularized, modulated, moisturised, moisturized, mononucleated, monounsaturated, monumentalized, mouched, moulded, mouldered, moulted, mounded, mountaineered, mountebanked, moused, mousetrapped, moussed, mucked, muckraked, mudcapped, mudded, muddied, muddled, muddleheaded, muffed, mufflered, mulched, mulcted, muled, mullioned, multiarmed, multibarreled, multibladed, multibranched, multicelled, multichambered, multicoated, multicolored, multifaceted, multihandicapped, multiheaded, multihued, multilayered, multileveled, multilobed, multimanned, multinucleated, multipaned, multiped, multiplexed, multipronged, multisided, multiskilled, multispeed, multistemmed, multistoried, multistranded, multitalented, multitiered, multitowered, multitracked, multiwarhead, mummed, mummied, mummified, mumped, munched, municipalized, munitioned, muraenid, mured, muriated, murmured, murthered, musclebound, mused, mushed, mushroomed, musicalised, musicalized, mussed, mustached, mustachioed, musted, mustered, muted, mutined, mutineered, mutinied, muttered, mutualized, muzzled
All words that fit MUEDstarts with E and ends with Y, with T then I then T in between, in that order.
electricity, entirety, entity, eternity, ethnicity, eventuality, eccentricity, effectivity, effectuality, egocentricity, egotistically, elasticity, electability, electrochemistry, electronegativity, electrophilicity, ellipticity, emotionality, emotivity, enthusiastically, equitability, erectility, essentiality, ethereality, ethicality, ethnocentricity, ethnohistory, exceptionability, exceptionality, excitability, exhaustibility, exhaustivity, exhibitionistically, existentialistically, exothermicity, exportability, extemporaneity, extendability, extensibility, extensionality, extensity, exteriority, exterminatory, externality, exterritoriality, extortionately, extractability, extralinguistically, extraliterary, extrality, extraterritoriality, extremity, extrudability
All words that fit ETITYstarts with C and ends with S, with A then R then S in between, in that order.
carcass, careless, carelessness, caress, catharsis, crabgrass, cabrestas, cabrestos, calligraphists, camerapersons, canorousness, canorousnesses, cantankerousness, cantankerousnesses, caparisons, capriciousness, capriciousnesses, caramelises, carassows, caravansaries, caravanserais, carbohydrases, carbonless, carboxylases, carboxymethylcelluloses, carboxypeptidases, carburises, carcases, carcasses, carcinogeneses, carcinogenesis, carcinomatoses, carcinomatosis, carcinomatosises, carcinosarcomas, cardcases, cardinalships, cardiologists, carditises, cardsharpers, cardsharps, careerisms, careerists, carefulness, carefulnesses, carelessnesses, caressers, caresses, caricaturists, caritases, carless, carnassials, carnivorousness, carnivorousnesses, caroluses, carousals, carousels, carousers, carouses, carpospores, carrousels, carses, carsickness, carsicknesses, cartelises, cartoonists, carwashes, caryopses, caryopsides, caryopsis, catachreses, catachresis, cataphoreses, cataphoresis, catastrophisms, catastrophists, catchphrases, categorises, cateress, cateresses, catharses, cavalierisms, chairmanships, chairpersons, chancellorships, characteristics, characterless, charases, chariness, charinesses, charismatics, charisms, charitableness, charitablenesses, charlatanisms, charmeuses, charmless, chartists, chartreuses, chiaroscurists, chiaroscuros, chimaerisms, chivalrousness, chivalrousnesses, circularises, circularness, circularnesses, clamorousness, clamorousnesses, clarinetists, clarinettists, clavichordists, clavierists, clearheadedness, clearheadednesses, clearinghouses, clearness, clearnesses, clearstories, coarseness, coarsenesses, coarsens, coatdress, coatdresses, coauthorships, cocarboxylases, cochairpersons, coldheartedness, coldheartednesses, collaborationisms, collaborationists, collarless, commanderships, communitarianisms, comparableness, comparablenesses, comparatists, comparativeness, comparativenesses, comparativists, comparisons, compartmentalises, complementariness, complementarinesses, conservatorships, containerisations, containerises, containerless, containerships, contradictoriness, contradictorinesses, contrariness, contrarinesses, copartnerships, coronaviruses, counteradvertisings, counteraggressions, cowardliness, cowardlinesses, crabgrasses, craftspersons, crashworthiness, crashworthinesses, creatureliness, creaturelinesses, curatorships, customariness, customarinesses, cytomegaloviruses, czardases, czarisms, czarists
All words that fit CARSSQuestions
- What were the answers to Wordspine #38?
- 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.