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Wordspine #9

Monday, August 31, 2026

Answers for puzzle #9. 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 CE. A word like cab looks close but doesn't count — it starts with C but ends with B, not E. Order is the whole game.

Pro — four levels

Level 1CE1628 words fit

starts with C and ends with E.

cabbage, cable, caboose, cacciatore, cache, cackle, caddie, cafe, caffeine, cage, cake, calculate, calibre, calorie, calzone, came, campfire, canape, candidate, candle, cane, canine, canoe, capable, cape, capitalize, capote, caprice, capsize, capsule … and 1598 more

All words that fit CE

Scoring on this level: CAFE = 6 points, CACCIATORE = 12 points.

Level 2HUT54 words fit

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

haircut, halibut, handout, hangout, haunt, hazelnut, hideout, holocaust, houseguest, hugest, hunt, hurst, hurt, hut, hackbut, hagbut, handwrought, haughtiest, haulmiest, haut, headhunt, hereabout, hindgut, hognut, holdout, holibut, homebuilt, hornpout, horticulturist, houseboat … and 24 more

All words that fit HUT

Scoring on this level: HUT = 7 points, HORTICULTURIST = 18 points.

Level 3SITY286 words fit

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

saintly, sanctity, sanitary, sanity, satisfactory, security, senility, sensibility, sensitivity, serenity, severity, sexuality, shifty, shitty, significantly, similarity, simplicity, simultaneously, sincerity, sixty, slightly, sobriety, society, solitary, sorority, sovereignty, specialty, spirituality, spontaneity, sprightly … and 256 more

All words that fit SITY

Scoring on this level: SIXTY = 11 points, SIMULTANEOUSLY = 20 points.

Level 4DRLIG40 words fit

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

darling, derailing, dribbling, drilling, drooling, darkling, dartling, decarboxylating, decentralizing, decontrolling, decriminalizing, defibrillating, deformalizing, dehydrochlorinating, deindustrializing, dematerializing, demineralizing, demoralizing, denaturalizing, departmentalizing, depersonalizing, dephosphorylating, deregulating, desacralizing, despiritualizing, detribalizing, dirling, disarticulating, disenthralling, disgruntling … and 10 more

All words that fit DRLIG

Scoring on this level: DARLING = 15 points, DEHYDROCHLORINATING = 27 points.

Ranks on this day

  • Beginner0
  • Good Start27
  • Moving Up60
  • Good99
  • Solid165
  • Nice251
  • Great344
  • Genius462
  • Perfect660
Play this Pro day

Sprint — ten rounds

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

Round 1WS1449 words fit

starts with W and ends with S.

wackos, waffles, wages, wagons, waiters, waitress, waitresses, waits, wakes, walks, wallets, walls, wants, warehouses, wares, warheads, warlocks, warms, warnings, warrants, warriors, wars, warts, was, washes, washrooms, wasps, wastes, watchers, watches, waters, waterworks, watts, wavelengths, waves, waxes, ways, weakness, weaknesses, weapons, wears, weasels, weathers, webinars, webs, websites, weddings, wedges, wedgies, weds, weeds, weekends, weeks, weenies, weighs, weightless, weights, weirdness, weirdoes, weirdos, welcomes, wellness, wells, welts, werewolves, westerns, wetlands, wets, whales, wharves, whats, wheelchairs, wheels, whereabouts, whereas, whims, whispers, whistles, whiteness, whites, whoops, whores, whys, wickedness, widows, wieners, wiggles, wigs, wildcats, wilderness, willies, willingness, willows, wills, wimps, windmills, windows, winds, wings, winks, winners, winnings, winos, wins, winters, wipers, wipes, wireless, wires, wiretaps, wiseass, wisecracks, wishes, witches, withdrawals, withdraws, withers, witless, witness, witnesses, wits, wives, woes, wolves, wonders, wondrous, woods, woops, wops, words, workers, workings, works, worlds, worms, worries, worshippers, worships, worthless, wounds, wrappers, wraps, wreaks, wreaths, wrecks, wrinkles, wrists, writers, writes, writings, wrongs, wuss, wussies, wabblers, wabbles, wabs, wackes, wackiness, wackinesses, wacks, wadders, waddies, waddings, waddlers, waddles, waders, wades, wadies, wadis, wadmaals, wadmals, wadmels, wadmolls, wadmols, wads, wadsets, waeness, waenesses, waes, waesucks, wafers, waffies, wafflers, wafflestompers, wafflings, waffs, waftages, wafters, wafts, waftures, wageless, wagerers, wagers, wageworkers, waggeries, waggers, waggishness, waggishnesses, waggles, waggoners, waggons, wagonages, wagoners, wagonettes, wags, wagtails, wahcondas, wahines, wahoos, waifs, wailers, wails, wains, wainscotings, wainscots, wainscottings, wainwrights, wairs, waistbands, waistcoats, waisters, waistings, waistlines, waists, waitings, waitpersons, waivers, waives, wakandas, wakefulness, wakefulnesses, wakeless, wakeners, wakenings, wakens, wakers, wakikis, walers, wales, walies … and 1209 more

All words that fit WS
Round 2RD1331 words fit

starts with R and ends with D.

rabid, raced, racked, radioed, ragged, raid, raided, railroad, rained, raised, raked, rallied, rammed, ramrod, rancid, rand, raped, rapid, rated, ratted, rattled, raved, rayed, reached, reacquainted, reacted, read, realised, realized, reamed, reappeared, reared, reasoned, reassigned, rebound, rebuild, recalled, recanted, recaptured, received, rechecked, reckoned, recognised, recognized, recommend, recommended, reconciled, reconnected, reconsidered, record, recorded, recovered, recreated, recruited, red, redhead, redid, reduced, redwood, reed, reelected, reeled, referenced, referred, refined, reflected, reformed, refreshed, refrigerated, refund, refused, regained, regard, regarded, regenerated, registered, regretted, regulated, rehabilitated, rehearsed, reimbursed, reincarnated, reinforced, reinstated, reinvented, rejected, rejuvenated, rekindled, related, relaxed, released, relegated, relieved, reload, remained, remarked, remarried, remedied, remembered, remind, reminded, remodeled, removed, rendered, renewed, renowned, rented, reopened, repaid, repaired, repeated, replaced, replied, reported, represented, repressed, reprimand, reprimanded, reputed, requested, required, reread, rerouted, rescheduled, rescinded, rescued, resented, reserved, resigned, resisted, resolved, resorted, respected, respond, responded, rested, restored, restricted, resulted, resumed, resurfaced, retained, retaliated, retard, retarded, retired, retreated, retrieved, returned, reunited, revealed, revered, reverend, reversed, reviewed, revised, revived, revoked, revolved, reward, rewarded, rewind, rhymed, ribbed, rid, riddled, ridiculed, rigged, rigid, riled, ripped, risked, riveted, road, roasted, robbed, rocked, rod, rolled, rooted, roped, rosebud, rotated, rotted, round, rounded, rousted, routed, rubbed, ruffled, rugged, ruined, ruled, rumored, rumpled, runaround, ruptured, rushed, rusted, rabbeted, rabbited, rabbled, racemed, racemized, racemoid, racketed, racketeered, rad, radded, raddled, radiated, radicalised, radicalized, radicand, radicated, radiographed, radiolabeled, radiolabelled, raffled, rafted, raftered, raged, ragouted, ragweed, railbird, railed, railhead, railroaded, rainband, rainbird, rainwashed, ralphed, rambled, ramified, rampaged, ramparted, ramped, ramrodded, ranched, rancored … and 1091 more

All words that fit RD
Round 3BEG388 words fit

starts with B and ends with G, with E in between, in that order.

badgering, barreling, bartending, battering, beaming, beanbag, bearing, beating, becoming, bedbug, befitting, beg, begging, beginning, behaving, beheading, being, believing, bellyaching, belong, belonging, benching, bending, berating, berg, betraying, betting, bickering, blathering, bleaching, bleeding, blending, blessing, blithering, blubbering, blundering, boomerang, bootleg, bordering, bothering, breaking, breathing, breathtaking, breeding, breezing, brewing, briefing, broadening, browbeating, burgeoning, buttering, backbreaking, backpedaling, backpedalling, backscattering, bacterizing, bannering, banqueting, banteng, bantering, barbecuing, barbequing, barbering, barrelling, bartering, baserunning, basseting, bassetting, battening, bayoneting, bayonetting, beachcombing, beaching, beaconing, beading, beaning, bearbaiting, bearding, bearhug, beatifying, beautifying, beavering, beblooding, becalming, becapping, becarpeting, bechalking, bechancing, becharming, becking, beckoning, beclamoring, beclasping, becloaking, beclog, beclogging, beclothing, beclouding, beclowning, becowarding, becrawling, becriming, becrowding, becrusting, becudgeling, becudgelling, becursing, bedabbling, bedamning, bedarkening, bedaubing, bedazzling, bedcovering, bedding, bedeafening, bedecking, bedeviling, bedevilling, bedewing, bediapering, bedighting, bedimming, bedimpling, bedirtying, bedizening, bedraggling, bedraping, bedrenching, bedriveling, bedrivelling, bedrug, bedrugging, bedspring, bedumbing, beduncing, bedwarfing, beefing, beekeeping, beelining, beeping, beeswing, beetling, befalling, befingering, beflag, beflagging, befleaing, beflecking, beflowering, befog, befogging, befooling, befouling, befretting, befriending, befringing, befuddling, begalling, begazing, begetting, beggaring, begirding, begirdling, begirting, begladding, beglamoring, beglamouring, beglooming, begriming, begrimming, begroaning, begrudging, beguiling, begulfing, beholding, behooving, behoving, behowling, bejeweling, bejewelling, bejumbling, bekissing, beknighting, beknotting, belaboring, belabouring, beladying, belauding, belaying, belching, beleaguering, beleaping, beliquoring, belittling, belling, bellowing, bellying, belting, belying, bemadaming, bemaddening, bemeaning, bemingling, bemiring, bemisting, bemixing, bemoaning, bemocking, bemuddling, bemurmuring, bemusing, bemuzzling, benaming, bendaying, beneficiating, beneficing, benefiting, benefitting, benumbing, bepainting, bepimpling, bequeathing, beraking, berascaling, bereaving, berhyming, beriming, berrying, berthing, bescorching, bescouring, bescreening, beseeching, beseeming, besetting, beshadowing, beshaming, beshivering, beshouting, beshrewing … and 148 more

All words that fit BEG
Round 4CAY694 words fit

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

cacophony, caddy, cagey, calamity, calmly, canary, candidacy, candy, cannery, canopy, capacity, captivity, cardiology, carefully, carney, carpentry, carry, casually, casualty, catchy, categorically, category, catty, cautionary, cautiously, cavalry, cavity, celibacy, certainly, certainty, certifiably, chardonnay, charity, charley, charmingly, chastity, chatty, chemically, chocolatey, choreography, chronically, circulatory, clammy, clarify, clarity, classify, classy, clay, clearly, clinically, coincidentally, comfortably, commentary, commercially, commissary, company, comparatively, compatibility, complacency, complimentary, conceivably, confederacy, confidentially, congeniality, conservatory, considerably, conspiracy, constantly, contemporary, continually, contradictory, contrary, corollary, coronary, cosmically, cowardly, crabby, crafty, cranberry, cranky, cranny, crappy, crawly, crazy, creaky, creamy, creatively, creativity, criminally, critically, culinary, culpability, culturally, customarily, customary, cutaway, cabby, cabinetry, cableway, cachexy, cacography, cacophonously, cadastrally, cadaverously, caddishly, cadency, cadgy, caducity, caecally, cagily, cagy, cairny, cajolery, cakey, caky, calamary, calamitously, calcareously, calcify, calculatedly, calculatingly, calefactory, callboy, calligraphically, calligraphy, callosity, callously, calorically, calorimetrically, calorimetry, calory, calumniously, calumny, calvary, campanology, campily, campy, cancerously, candidly, candleberry, caninity, cannily, cannonry, canny, canonically, canonicity, canonry, canorously, cantankerously, canty, capability, capably, capaciously, capacitively, capillarity, capillary, capitalistically, capitally, capitulary, capriciously, captaincy, captiously, caravansary, caraway, carboy, carcinogenicity, cardinality, cardinally, cardiography, cardiomyopathy, cardiopathy, cardiopulmonary, cardiorespiratory, carelessly, caressingly, caressively, carnality, carnally, carnify, carnivorously, carny, carpellary, carpetbaggery, carpingly, carriageway, carroty, cartographically, cartography, cartoonishly, cartoony, cartulary, casefy, casky, cassowary, castability, castaway, castratory, casuistry, catabolically, catachrestically, cataclysmically, catalepsy, cataleptically, catalytically, cataphoretically, cataplexy, catarrhally, catastrophically, catatonically, catchfly, catchpenny, catenary, cathodally, cathodically, catholically, catholicity, cationically, cattery, cattily, caudally, causality, causally, causatively, causeway, causey, caustically, causticity, cautery, cavalierly, cavally, cavernously, cavitary, cavy, cay, ceaselessly, cecally, celebratory, celestially, cellularity, centaury … and 454 more

All words that fit CAY
Round 5BRH64 words fit

starts with B and ends with H, with R in between, in that order.

besmirch, birch, birth, blabbermouth, blowtorch, boorish, brainwash, branch, brash, breach, breadth, breakthrough, breath, breech, brooch, broth, brunch, brush, butterscotch, backrush, backstretch, bairnish, balderdash, barograph, bathythermograph, bearish, bedrench, begorah, begorrah, berth, bescorch, betroth, bimorph, birdbath, birrotch, bitterbrush, bitterish, boarfish, boarish, borough, borsch, bottlebrush, bounderish, brach, brackish, brainish, brandish, brassish, brattish, breechcloth, brinish, broach, broadcloth, broadish, broguish, brownish, brugh, brutish, buccaneerish, bullrush, bulrush, burgh, burnish, butterfish

All words that fit BRH
Round 6SPRE189 words fit

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

sapphire, scripture, sculpture, separate, sophomore, spare, sparkle, speakerphone, spectre, sphere, spitfire, splurge, spree, springtime, sprinkle, sprite, spruce, spyware, supervise, suppertime, supportive, supreme, surprise, samphire, sapphirine, saprobe, saprolite, saprophyte, scapegrace, sceptre, schipperke, schizophrene, sculpturesque, semaphore, semiparasite, semipermeable, semiprivate, sempre, separable, separative, sepulchre, sepulture, shipborne, siphonophore, slipware, sniperscope, somatopleure, sparable, spareable, sparge, sparlike, sparrowlike, sparse, sparteine, spectrohelioscope, spectroscope, spermathecae, spermatocyte, spermatophore, spermatophyte, spermicide, spermine, spermophile, sperrylite, spessartine, spessartite, sphalerite, spherule, spherulite, spiderlike, spinnerette, spinthariscope, spiracle, spire, spireme, spiritualize, spirituelle, spirochaete, spirochete, spirulae, splore, spongeware, sporangiophore, spore, sporicide, sporophore, sporophyte, sporozoite, sportive, sportsmanlike, sporulate, sporulative, sporule, spraddle, sprattle, spreadable, springe, springhouse, springlike, springtide, sprue, spurge, spurtle, stratosphere, subprimate, subprime, subtemperate, sulfinpyrazone, sulphurise, superable, superabundance, superannuate, superathlete, superbillionaire, supercede, supercharge, supercomfortable, supercompetitive, superconductive, superconglomerate, superconservative, supercute, superdeluxe, supereffective, superelevate, superelite, supereminence, superette, superexpensive, superfine, supergene, superglue, superheroine, superheterodyne, superhype, superimposable, superimpose, superinduce, superintelligence, superintendence, superlarge, superlative, superlie, supermale, supermasculine, supermassive, supermillionaire, supernature, supernovae, superordinate, superovulate, superoxide, superphosphate, superplane, superpolite, superposable, superpose, superrace, superregenerative, supersafe, supersale, supersaturate, superscale, superscribe, supersede, supersedure, supersensible, supersensitive, superserviceable, supersize, superspectacle, superstate, superstimulate, superstore, superstrike, superstructure, supersubtle, supervene, supervirile, superwave, superwide, superwife, supportable, suppressible, suppressive, suppurate, suppurative, surprize, suspire

All words that fit SPRE
Round 7WRST37 words fit

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

warmest, weirdest, worst, wrist, wanderlust, wariest, wartiest, watercolorist, wateriest, waterspout, weariest, weathercast, welfarist, westernmost, whirliest, wienerwurst, winteriest, wintriest, wiriest, wordiest, workbasket, worksheet, worldliest, wormiest, worset, worthiest, wrathiest, wrest, wretchedest, wriest, wriggliest, wrinkliest, wristiest, wristlet, wrongest, wryest, wurst

All words that fit WRST
Round 8PENE265 words fit

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

patience, penalize, penance, pence, penetrate, penne, penthouse, percentage, percentile, perchance, performance, persistence, personable, personalize, pestilence, pinecone, pipeline, pomegranate, precedence, prednisone, preference, presence, presentable, pretense, preventative, preventive, promenade, provenance, providence, prudence, pachytene, panettone, pangene, pantothenate, papaverine, paradichlorobenzene, parentage, parenthesize, parvenue, passementerie, passerine, patentable, patentee, pearlescence, pectinate, pectinesterase, pedestrianize, peduncle, pedunculate, pelerine, pemoline, penalise, pendentive, peneplane, penetrable, penetrance, penetrative, penicillamine, penicillate, penicillinase, penile, penitence, penknife, penlite, pennae, penname, pennate, pennine, pennywhistle, penoche, pensee, pensile, pensionable, pensione, pensive, pentacle, pentamidine, pentane, pentangle, pentapeptide, pentathlete, pentazocine, pentene, pentlandite, pentobarbitone, pentode, pentose, pentoxide, penuche, penuchle, penuckle, penultimate, penumbrae, peonage, pepsine, peptone, peradventure, percaline, perchloroethylene, percipience, peregrinate, peregrine, perennate, perilune, periwinkle, permanence, permanganate, perphenazine, perseverance, personae, personage, personalise, personate, personative, pertinence, petaline, petulance, petuntse, petuntze, pfennige, phenacaine, phenacite, phenakite, phenanthrene, phenate, phenazine, phencyclidine, phenmetrazine, phenobarbitone, phenolate, phenothiazine, phenotype, phenoxide, phentolamine, phenylalanine, phenylbutazone, phenylephrine, phenylethylamine, phenylpropanolamine, phenylthiocarbamide, pheromone, philhellene, philoprogenitive, phoenixlike, phosgene, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphene, phosphocreatine, phosphoenolpyruvate, phosphorescence, photoengrave, photoreconnaissance, photosensitive, photosensitize, picturephone, pigeonhole, pigeonite, pinene, piperazine, piperidine, piperine, pipestone, pitchblende, pithecanthropine, placentae, plasmagene, plasticene, pleasance, plenitude, plentitude, pocketknife, polybutadiene, polyene, polyethylene, polygene, polyphiloprogenitive, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytene, polythene, polyurethane, polyvalence, porcelainize, porcelainlike, postdeadline, postdebutante, postemergence, postexperience, postindependence, potence, potentate, potentiate, praemunire, preadolescence, preannounce, prearrange, precipitance, preclearance, precognitive, preconceive, predefine, predesignate, predestinate, predestine, predetermine, prednisolone, predominance, predominate, preemergence, preeminence, preexistence, prefinance, pregnable, pregnenolone, prehensile, premanufacture, premune, prename, prenominate, prentice, prepense, preperformance, preponderance, preponderate, prepubescence, prerinse, prescience, presentative, presentee, presentence, pretence, preunite, prevalence, preventable, preventible, primogeniture, proenzyme, professionalize, progesterone, proletarianise … and 25 more

All words that fit PENE
Round 9IDING82 words fit

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

identifying, idling, impeding, impending, imploding, inbreeding, including, indicating, inducing, indulging, intending, intimidating, introducing, intruding, invading, idealising, idealizing, ideating, ideologizing, idolising, idolizing, imbedding, imbodying, imboldening, imparadising, impleading, impledging, impounding, inbounding, incandescing, incarnadining, incommoding, indagating, indemnifying, indenting, indenturing, indexing, indicting, indigenizing, indiscriminating, indisposing, inditing, individualising, individualizing, individuating, indoctrinating, indorsing, indowing, inducting, induing, indurating, industrialising, industrializing, indwelling, infolding, inholding, innuendoing, interbedding, interbreeding, interceding, interdepending, interdicting, interdiffusing, interdigitating, interfolding, intergrading, interlarding, interlending, interluding, intermeddling, intermediating, interpleading, inundating, invalidating, invaliding, inwinding, iodating, iodinating, iodising, iodizing, irradiating, islanding

All words that fit IDING
Round 10RCUSE10 words fit

starts with R and ends with E, with C then U then S in between, in that order.

reclusive, recourse, recuse, racecourse, reaccuse, recluse, recrudesce, recrudescence, recursive, repercussive

All words that fit RCUSE

Questions

What were the answers to Wordspine #9?
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.