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Words starting with S, then I, then R, ending in S

706 words fit this spine. The 240 most recognizable are listed below, longest and commonest first. They start with S, end with S, and contain I then R in that order in between — not necessarily side by side.

Near misses
  • sabbath doesn't fit: it starts with S but ends with H, not S.
  • sabers doesn't fit: it has the right ends but no I in the middle.
  • sacrifices doesn't fit: it has every letter of SIRS but they don't appear in order inside it.

4-letter words

sirs

5-letter words

stirs

6-letter words

sabirs, shiers, shires, shirks, shirrs, shirts, sirens, skirts, stairs

7-letter words

sailers, sailors, santirs, satires, saviors, seiners, seisers, seisors, seizers, seizors, seniors, shairds, shairns, shikars, shiners, shivers, singers, sinners, sisters, sitters, snipers, spiders, spirals, spirits, squirts, suitors

8-letter words

sadirons, salliers, saltiers, saltires, sautoirs, saviours, scirrhus, scissors, sciurids, scribers, seabirds, seisures, seizures, seminars, semipros, shickers, shifters, shikaris, shikkers, shimmers, shippers, shirkers, slippers, smithers, snickers, soldiers, stickers, swimmers, swingers

9-letter words

samphires, sapphires, satirises, satirists, satirizes, sautoires, schillers, scimetars, scimitars, scimiters, sciroccos, scirrhous, scissures, sciurines, scrimpers, scripters, seigneurs, seigniors, semiworks, sequiturs, servicers, servitors, shielders, shikarees, shinglers, shipworms, shipyards, shirrings, shirtings, shirtless, shivarees, shiverers, shopgirls, sideburns, souvenirs, splinters, squirrels, strippers, superiors, survivors

10-letter words

sailboards, salesgirls, salivators, sandpipers, sanitaries, sawtimbers, saxifrages, scarifiers, scirrhuses, scribblers, scriptures, scriveners, seignories, semibreves, semidwarfs, semigroups, seminaries, serigraphs, shellfires, shinneries, shipboards, shipowners, shipwrecks, shirtdress, shirttails, signatures, skirmishes, sprinklers

11-letter words

sacrificers, sailboaters, sailplaners, sanctifiers, sanitarians, sanitariums, sanitoriums, saponifiers, schipperkes, schizocarps, schoolgirls, scrimmagers, scrutineers, seigneuries, seigniories, seignorages, seismograms, semicircles, semideserts, semidwarves, seminarians, seminarists, semiquavers, semitropics, seniorities, sensitizers, sermonizers, shanghaiers, shipfitters, shipmasters, shipwrights, shirtfronts, shirtmakers, shirtwaists, shoplifters, smithereens, sweatshirts

12-letter words

salinometers, salutiferous, sanguinarias, sansevierias, scissortails, screwdrivers, scrutinizers, secularizers, seigniorages, seismographs, seismometers, seleniferous, semidarkness, semilustrous, seminiferous, semiprecious, semitrailers, sericultures, serigraphers, serigraphies, shinplasters, shipbuilders, shirtdresses, shirtsleeves, similarities

13-letter words

sailboardings, sceneshifters, schizophrenes, scintillators, screenwriters, scrimshanders, scriptwriters, seismometries, semiaridities, semidiameters, semiliterates, semiparasites, semireligious, sensitometers

14-letter words

saccharimeters, schizophrenias, schizophrenics, schoolmistress, scintigraphies, seismographers, seismographies, semiconductors, semidarknesses, semiporcelains, sempiternities, sensitometries, sericulturists, serviceberries, sesquiterpenes, shellfisheries

15-letter words

schlockmeisters, scintillometers, semiretirements

16-letter words

satisfactoriness, schoolmistresses, semiabstractions, semisubmersibles, sesquicarbonates

17-letter words

semidocumentaries, semipornographies, semiprofessionals, sesquicentenaries

18-letter words

satisfactorinesses, semipermeabilities

Where this pattern came from

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How the rule works

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