Words starting with S, then L, then E, then E, ending in S
401 words fit this spine. The 240 most recognizable are listed below, longest and commonest first. They start with S, end with S, and contain L then E then E in that order in between — not necessarily side by side.
- 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 L in the middle.
- salaries doesn't fit: it has every letter of SLEES but they don't appear in order inside it.
6-letter words
sleeks, sleeps, sleets
7-letter words
silexes, sleaves, sleazes, sledges, sleeves
8-letter words
scoleces, silences, silvexes, sledders, sleekens, sleepers
9-letter words
saliences, salvagees, scaleless, sclereids, sclerites, scleroses, sealeries, selectees, selenates, selenides, selenites, selvedges, shlemiels, silencers, silkweeds, silverers, simplexes, slaverers, slaveries, sleekness, sleepings, sleepless, sleighers, sliverers, slynesses, smileless
10-letter words
sacrileges, saddleless, saddleries, saliencies, salometers, saltnesses, saltpeters, schlemiels, scolecites, sculleries, selectness, selfnesses, shelterers, shinleaves, shlemiehls, silentness, simpleness, singleness, slanderers, sleazebags, sleaziness, sleepiness, sleepovers, sleepwalks, sleeveless, sleevelets, slimnesses, slobberers, sloganeers, slownesses, slumberers, smelteries
11-letter words
sablefishes, saddlebreds, saddletrees, saleratuses, salesclerks, salesladies, saltinesses, saplessness, scalinesses, servileness, settlements, sexlessness, shelterless, shuttleless, silhouettes, silkinesses, sillinesses, silveriness, silversides, silverwares, silverweeds, singletrees, sinlessness, sizableness, slacknesses, sleazeballs, sleeknesses, sleepyheads, slenderizes, slenderness, slicknesses, sliminesses, smallnesses, solacements, supplements
12-letter words
salespersons, salinometers, sallownesses, sclerodermas, sclerometers, sculptresses, seamlessness, secludedness, seemlinesses, selectnesses, seleniferous, selenologies, selflessness, selfsameness, sensibleness, shacklebones, shelterbelts, shirtsleeves, shrillnesses, sicklinesses, silentnesses, silverfishes, simplenesses, sinfulnesses, singlenesses, skeletonises, skeletonizes, skillessness, slanginesses, slaughterers, slaveholders, sleazinesses, sleepinesses, sleepwalkers, slickensides, slightnesses, slinkinesses, slipperiness, sloppinesses, slovenliness, slushinesses, sociableness, sociologeses
13-letter words
saintlinesses, salmonberries, salmonelloses, saplessnesses, sclerenchymas, seclusiveness, selectiveness, selectivities, selfishnesses, semiliterates, senselessness, separableness, servilenesses, sexlessnesses, shallownesses, shamelessness, shapelessness, shapelinesses, shiftlessness, sightlessness, sightlinesses, silverberries, silverinesses, sinlessnesses, sizablenesses, skeletonizers, skulduggeries, slavishnesses, sledgehammers, sleeplessness, slendernesses, slouchinesses
14-letter words
salutarinesses, schoolteachers, scleroproteins, scornfulnesses, seamlessnesses, seasonableness, secludednesses, sedulousnesses, selflessnesses, selfsamenesses, sensiblenesses, shamefulnesses, shellfisheries, simultaneities, skillessnesses, skillfulnesses, skullduggeries, slanderousness, slatternliness, slipperinesses, slothfulnesses, slovenlinesses, sluggardnesses, sluggishnesses, sluttishnesses, sociablenesses
15-letter words
salaciousnesses, schlockmeisters, scintillometers, seclusivenesses, selectivenesses, senselessnesses, separablenesses, serviceableness, shamelessnesses, shapelessnesses, shiftlessnesses, sightlessnesses, slaughterhouses, sleeplessnesses, solderabilities
16-letter words
sacrilegiousness, salubriousnesses, salvageabilities, scandalousnesses, schoolmistresses, sclerenchymatous, scrupulousnesses, scurrilousnesses, seasonablenesses, simplemindedness, simultaneousness, slanderousnesses, slatternlinesses
17-letter words
serviceablenesses
18-letter words
sacrilegiousnesses, simplemindednesses, simultaneousnesses
Where this pattern came from
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Every word above follows this rule — see if you can find them under a clock.
How the rule works