Words starting with S, then L, then E, then R, ending in S
342 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 R 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 SLERS but they don't appear in order inside it.
7-letter words
sailers, salters, salvers, scalers, scleras, sealers, sellers, sidlers, sillers, silvers, slakers, slaters, slavers, slayers, slicers, sliders, slivers, slopers, smilers, solders, solvers
8-letter words
saddlers, salliers, salterns, saltiers, saluters, samplers, scalpers, sclerous, scolders, scowlers, sculkers, scullers, seltzers, settlers, shellers, shelters, shelvers, sizzlers, skelters, skulkers, slabbers, slackers, slammers, slanders, slappers, slashers, slathers, sledders, sleepers, slickers, slimmers, slingers, slippers, slithers, slitters, slobbers, sloggers, slubbers, sluggers, slumbers, slummers, smellers, smelters, smolders, snarlers, solacers, soldiers, solerets, spallers, stalkers
9-letter words
saleratus, salerooms, salvagers, schillers, sclaffers, sclereids, sclerites, scleroses, sclerosis, scrawlers, scufflers, sealeries, selectors, shacklers, shielders, shinglers, shoulders, shovelers, shufflers, siffleurs, signalers, silencers, silverers, slatterns, slaverers, slaveries, sleighers, slipovers, sliverers, slouchers, smoulders, smugglers, snifflers, snigglers, snivelers, snufflers, solanders, solderers, sollerets, sparklers, splinters
10-letter words
saddleries, safflowers, salesgirls, salesrooms, salometers, saltpeters, scallopers, schedulers, sclerotics, sclerotins, scrabblers, scramblers, scribblers, sculleries, sepulchers, shelterers, shovellers, sideliners, signallers, skylarkers, slanderers, slanderous, slaughters, sleepovers, slipcovers, slobberers, sloganeers, slumberers, slumberous, smelteries, snorkelers, soldieries, sommeliers, sprinklers, sunflowers
11-letter words
saddlebreds, saddletrees, sailboaters, sailplaners, salamanders, saleratuses, salesclerks, saltcellars, saltshakers, sandlotters, shelterless, shoplifters, silverbacks, silveriness, silversides, silverwares, silverweeds, simplifiers, singletrees, skedaddlers, slenderizes, slenderness, snowblowers, socializers, softballers, soldierings
12-letter words
salespersons, salinometers, salutiferous, sandblasters, sclerodermas, sclerometers, scolopendras, secularizers, seleniferous, semitrailers, shareholders, shelterbelts, shinplasters, shipbuilders, silverfishes, silverpoints, silversmiths, slaughterers, slaughterous, slaveholders, sleepwalkers, slipperiness, smallholders, snowmobilers, sockdolagers, sockdologers, soldierships, spacewalkers, spellbinders, stockholders
13-letter words
salmonberries, schoolmasters, sclerenchymas, semiliterates, shellcrackers, shuffleboards, silverberries, silverinesses, skeletonizers, skulduggeries, sledgehammers, slendernesses, snollygosters, soliloquizers, somatopleures, spellcheckers
14-letter words
scandalmongers, schoolteachers, scleroproteins, shellfisheries, skullduggeries, slanderousness, slatternliness, slipperinesses
15-letter words
schlockmeisters, scintillometers, sclerotizations, silversmithings, slaughterhouses, solderabilities
16-letter words
sclerenchymatous, slanderousnesses, slatternlinesses
17-letter words
scandalmongerings
19-letter words
spectrofluorimeters, spectrofluorometers
20-letter words
spectrofluorometries
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