8-letter words starting with S
Embark on a linguistic journey with words that begin with the letter S. This section showcases how S at the start shapes the identity and sound of various words. From commonly used terms to rare finds, explore the diverse range of words that start with S, enriching your vocabulary and appreciation for language.
| Word | Points | Definition | Sentence example |
|---|---|---|---|
| somebody | 16 | a human being | - |
| supposed | 13 | based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence | the supposed reason for his absence |
| straight | 12 | characterized by honesty and fairness | straight dealing |
| speaking | 15 | delivering an address to a public audience | - |
| security | 13 | defense against financial failure; financial independence | his pension gave him security in his old age |
| sleeping | 11 | quiet and inactive restfulness | - |
| surprise | 10 | the act of surprising someone | - |
| standing | 10 | an ordered listing of scores or results showing the relative positions of competitors (individuals or teams) in a sporting event | - |
| suddenly | 13 | on impulse; without premeditation | he made up his mind suddenly |
| starting | 9 | a turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning) | his starting meant that the coach thought he was one of their best linemen |
| shooting | 12 | the act of firing a projectile | his shooting was slow but accurate |
| strength | 12 | capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war | we faced an army of great strength |
| sergeant | 9 | a lawman with the rank of sergeant | - |
| shouting | 12 | uttering a loud inarticulate cry as of pain or excitement | - |
| shopping | 16 | searching for or buying goods or services | went shopping for a reliable plumber |
| studying | 13 | reading carefully with intent to remember | - |
| swimming | 16 | the act of swimming | it was the swimming they enjoyed most |
| stranger | 9 | anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found | - |
| separate | 10 | treat differently on the basis of sex or race | - |
| stealing | 9 | avoiding detection by moving carefully | - |
| solution | 8 | a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem | they were trying to find a peaceful solution |
| stronger | 9 | - | - |
| sometime | 12 | belonging to some prior time | - |
| schedule | 14 | a temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to | - |
| sentence | 10 | pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law | - |
| shoulder | 12 | a narrow edge of land (usually unpaved) along the side of a road | the car pulled off onto the shoulder |
| spending | 12 | the act of spending or disbursing money | - |
| struggle | 10 | climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling | - |
| stopping | 13 | fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members | - |
| services | 13 | performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others | the mayor tried to maintain city services |
| starving | 12 | the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine | - |
| survived | 15 | - | - |
| sandwich | 17 | insert or squeeze tightly between two people or objects | She was sandwiched in her airplane seat between two fat men |
| standard | 10 | a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated | the schools comply with federal standards |
| specific | 17 | a fact about some part (as opposed to general) | - |
| stubborn | 12 | not responding to treatment | a stubborn infection |
| slightly | 15 | in a slim or slender manner | slightly built |
| suitcase | 10 | a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes | - |
| sunshine | 11 | the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom | - |
| superman | 12 | street name for lysergic acid diethylamide | - |
| survival | 14 | a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment | - |
| strategy | 12 | an elaborate and systematic plan of action | - |
| superior | 10 | having a higher rank | superior officer |
| screwing | 14 | slang for sexual intercourse | - |
| shanghai | 15 | take (someone) against his will for compulsory service, especially on board a ship | The men were shanghaied after being drugged |
| southern | 11 | from the south; used especially of wind | southern breezes |
| sticking | 15 | extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary | a pile of boards sticking over the end of his truck |
| software | 14 | (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory | the market for software is expected to expand |
| stations | 8 | (Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary | - |
| somewhat | 16 | to certain extent or degree | - |
| shepherd | 17 | a herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock | - |
| scissors | 10 | a wrestling hold in which you wrap your legs around the opponents body or head and put your feet together and squeeze | - |
| spinning | 11 | creating thread | - |
| sequence | 19 | film consisting of a succession of related shots that develop a given subject in a movie | - |
| secretly | 13 | in secrecy; not openly | met secretly to discuss the invasion plans |
| suitable | 10 | worthy of being chosen especially as a spouse | the parents found the girl suitable for their son |
| strictly | 13 | in a stringent manner | - |
| sympathy | 21 | sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish) | - |
| stressed | 9 | suffering severe physical strain or distress | he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing |
| sweating | 12 | the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid | - |
| sickness | 14 | impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism | - |
| splendid | 12 | very good; of the highest quality | he was a splendid teacher |
| stinking | 13 | offensively malodorous | - |
| salesman | 10 | a man salesperson | - |
| selected | 11 | chosen in preference to another | - |
| shocking | 18 | giving offense to moral sensibilities and injurious to reputation | the most shocking book of its time |
| sexually | 18 | with respect to sexuality | sexually ambiguous |
| shitting | 12 | the elimination of fecal waste through the anus | - |
| scenario | 10 | an outline or synopsis of a play (or, by extension, of a literary work) | - |
| strongly | 12 | in a powerful manner | - |
| stepping | 13 | - | - |
| semester | 10 | half a year; a period of 6 months | - |
| sunlight | 12 | the rays of the sun | - |
| syndrome | 14 | a complex of concurrent things | every word has a syndrome of meanings |
| sensible | 10 | able to feel or perceive | even amoeba are sensible creatures |
| shithead | 15 | a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence | - |
| sneaking | 13 | not openly expressed | a sneaking suspicion |
| squirrel | 17 | a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail | - |
| slipping | 13 | moving as on a slippery surface | his slipping and slithering progress over the ice |
| souvenir | 11 | something of sentimental value | - |
| solitary | 11 | one who lives in solitude | - |
| stunning | 9 | commanding attention | a stunning performance |
| survivor | 14 | one who lives through affliction | the survivors of the fire were taken to a hospital |
| stalking | 13 | a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush | - |
| skeleton | 12 | a scandal that is kept secret | there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet |
| stripper | 12 | a performer who provides erotic entertainment by undressing to music | - |
| swinging | 13 | characterized by a buoyant rhythm | a swinging pace |
| starring | 9 | indicating the most important performer or role | the starring role |
| slippery | 15 | not to be trusted | how extraordinarily slippery a liar the camera is |
| strangle | 9 | prevent the progress or free movement of | the imperialist nation wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small countries |
| spitting | 11 | the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva) | - |
| smelling | 11 | (used with `of' or `with') noticeably odorous | - |
| speeding | 12 | changing location rapidly | - |
| striking | 13 | the physical coming together of two or more things | - |
| sneakers | 12 | - | - |
| sessions | 8 | United States composer who promoted 20th century music (1896-1985) | - |
| spelling | 11 | forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage | - |
| secondly | 14 | in the second place | - |
| shameful | 16 | (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame | a shameful display of cowardice |
| steering | 9 | the act of setting and holding a course | - |
| shipment | 15 | goods carried by a large vehicle | - |
| sidewalk | 16 | walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway | - |
| shortcut | 13 | a route shorter than the usual one | - |
| sounding | 10 | appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms | fine-sounding phrases |
| solitude | 9 | a state of social isolation | - |
| severely | 14 | with sternness; in a severe manner | peered severely over her glasses |
| smoothly | 16 | with no problems or difficulties | put the plans into effect quickly and smoothly |
| shipping | 16 | conveyance provided by the ships belonging to one country or industry | - |
| shutting | 12 | the act of closing something | - |
| smashing | 14 | the act of breaking something into small pieces | - |
| sniffles | 14 | - | - |
| sweeping | 14 | ignoring distinctions | sweeping generalizations |
| suicidal | 11 | dangerous to yourself or your interests | suicidal impulses |
| surround | 9 | envelop completely | - |
| squadron | 18 | a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms | - |
| settling | 9 | a gradual sinking to a lower level | - |
| silently | 11 | without speaking | - |
| stripped | 13 | having only essential or minimal features | a stripped new car |
| swearing | 12 | profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger | - |
| symbolic | 17 | relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols | symbolic logic |
| stabbing | 13 | causing physical or especially psychological injury | a stabbing remark |
| specimen | 14 | a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes | they collected a urine specimen for urinalysis |
| subtitle | 10 | translation of foreign dialogue of a movie or TV program; usually displayed at the bottom of the screen | - |
| sideways | 15 | to, toward or at one side | - |
| showtime | 16 | the time at which something is supposed to begin | - |
| skipping | 17 | - | - |
| swelling | 12 | an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement | - |
| sinister | 8 | stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable | the scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him |
| scorpion | 12 | the eighth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about October 23 to November 21 | - |
| sabotage | 11 | destroy property or hinder normal operations | The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war |
| stranded | 10 | cut off or left behind | several stranded fish in a tide pool |
| spoiling | 11 | the process of becoming spoiled | - |
| stirring | 9 | capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement | stirring events such as wars and rescues |
| surgical | 11 | relating to or requiring or amenable to treatment by surgery especially as opposed to medicine | a surgical appendix |
| shortage | 12 | an acute insufficiency | - |
| strapped | 13 | - | - |
| stallion | 8 | uncastrated adult male horse | - |
| socially | 13 | by or with respect to society | socially accepted norms |
| syphilis | 16 | a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta) | - |
| startled | 9 | excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement | students startled by the teacher's quiet return |
| slapping | 13 | - | - |
| symphony | 21 | a long and complex sonata for symphony orchestra | - |
| supplied | 13 | - | - |
| sporting | 11 | exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play | a sporting solution of the disagreement |
| scraping | 13 | a deep bow with the foot drawn backwards (indicating excessive humility) | all that bowing and scraping did not impress him |
| shifting | 15 | (of soil) unstable | shifting sands |
| stuffing | 15 | a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables | - |
| supplier | 12 | someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity | - |
| savannah | 14 | a flat grassland in tropical or subtropical regions | - |
| sedative | 12 | tending to soothe or tranquilize | took a hot drink with sedative properties before going to bed |
| suppress | 12 | come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority | - |
| scolding | 12 | rebuking a person harshly | - |
| sherlock | 17 | someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information | - |
| smuggled | 13 | distributed or sold illicitly | - |
| spilling | 11 | - | - |
| stalling | 9 | a tactic used to mislead or delay | - |
| sidekick | 19 | a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities | - |
| slamming | 13 | - | - |
| snorting | 9 | an act of forcible exhalation | - |
| sorcerer | 10 | one who practices magic or sorcery | - |
| sterling | 9 | highest in quality | - |
| shitless | 11 | (used as complement) to the utmost degree | the students were bored shitless |
| suburban | 12 | relating to or characteristic of or situated in suburbs | suburban population |
| suspense | 10 | an uncertain cognitive state | the matter remained in suspense for several years |
| serenity | 11 | the absence of mental stress or anxiety | - |
| shagging | 14 | - | - |
| scanning | 11 | the act of systematically moving a finely focused beam of light or electrons over a surface in order to produce an image of it for analysis or transmission | - |
| sorority | 11 | a social club for female undergraduates | - |
| spanking | 15 | quick and energetic | a spanking breeze |
| scramble | 14 | climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling | - |
| snapping | 13 | - | - |
| softball | 13 | a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softer | - |
| spacious | 12 | (of buildings and rooms) having ample space | a spacious ballroom |
| seatbelt | 10 | a safety belt used in a car or plane to hold you in your seat in case of an accident | - |
| soothing | 12 | freeing from fear and anxiety | - |
| seminary | 13 | a private place of education for the young | - |
| sadistic | 11 | deriving pleasure or sexual gratification from inflicting pain on another | - |
| snowball | 13 | plant having heads of fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers; grows in sandy arid regions | - |
| spectrum | 14 | a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities | - |
| smuggler | 12 | someone who imports or exports without paying duties | - |
| steaming | 11 | (used of heat) extremely | - |
| swimsuit | 13 | tight fitting garment worn for swimming | - |
| spirited | 11 | made lively or spirited | a spirited debate |
| silenced | 11 | reduced to silence | the silenced crowd waited expectantly |
| solemnly | 13 | in a grave and sedate manner | the judge sat there solemnly |
| stitched | 14 | fastened with stitches | - |
| spraying | 14 | a quantity of small objects flying through the air | - |
| skinhead | 16 | a member of any of several British or American groups consisting predominantly of young people who shave their heads; some engage in white supremacist and anti-immigrant activities and this leads to the perception that all skinheads are racist and violent | - |
| sizzling | 27 | characterized by intense emotion or interest or excitement | sizzling political issues |
| splinter | 10 | a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal | he got a splinter in his finger |
| stairway | 14 | a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps | - |
| scrabble | 14 | an aimless drawing | - |
| stocking | 15 | close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural) | - |
| stakeout | 12 | surveillance of some place or some person by the police (as in anticipation of a crime) | - |
| schnapps | 17 | any of various strong liquors especially a Dutch spirit distilled from potatoes | - |
| stricken | 14 | (used in combination) affected by something overwhelming | - |
| squashed | 21 | that has been violently compressed | the squashed looking nakedness of the fledgling birds |
| spotless | 10 | completely neat and clean | - |
| stingray | 12 | large venomous ray with large barbed spines near the base of a thin whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds | - |
| seasonal | 8 | a worker who finds employment only in certain seasons | - |
| splendor | 11 | a quality that outshines the usual | - |
| sanitary | 11 | free from filth and pathogens | sanitary conditions for preparing food |
| selfless | 11 | showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others | - |
| shootout | 11 | a fight involving shooting small arms with the intent to kill or frighten | - |
| shrapnel | 13 | shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight | - |
| solstice | 10 | either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator | - |
| seducing | 12 | - | - |
| sprinkle | 14 | a light shower that falls in some locations and not others nearby | - |
| situated | 9 | situated in a particular spot or position | nicely situated on a quiet riverbank |
| steadily | 12 | in a steady manner | he could still walk steadily |
| scarcely | 15 | almost not | they scarcely ever used the emergency generator |
| scouting | 11 | exploring in order to gain information | scouting in enemy territory is very dangerous |
| sociable | 12 | a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity | - |
| strained | 9 | lacking natural ease | - |
| swapping | 16 | - | - |
| scheming | 16 | acting with a specific goal | - |
| sculptor | 12 | an artist who creates sculptures | - |
| silicone | 10 | any of a large class of siloxanes that are unusually stable over a wide range of temperatures; used in lubricants and adhesives and coatings and synthetic rubber and electrical insulation | - |
| shredded | 14 | prepared by cutting | shredded cabbage |
| skylight | 19 | a window in a roof to admit daylight | - |
| swindler | 12 | a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud | - |
| sanctity | 13 | the quality of being holy | - |
| secluded | 12 | hidden from general view or use | a secluded romantic spot |
| seasoned | 9 | rendered competent through trial and experience | a seasoned traveler |
| shedding | 14 | the process whereby something is shed | - |
| sighting | 13 | the act of observing | several sightings of enemy troops were reported |
| simulate | 10 | make a pretence of | - |
| singular | 9 | beyond or deviating from the usual or expected | singular behavior |
| showdown | 18 | a hostile disagreement face-to-face | - |
| snapshot | 13 | an informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera | my snapshots haven't been developed yet |
| sparring | 11 | making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; a part of training for a boxer | - |
| scariest | 10 | - | - |
| showcase | 16 | a setting in which something can be displayed to best effect | it was a showcase for democracy in Africa |
| starling | 9 | gregarious birds native to the Old World | - |
| sayonara | 11 | a farewell remark | - |
| scrubbed | 15 | made clean by scrubbing | fresh-scrubbed floors |
| stifling | 12 | forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority | the stifling of all dissent |
| silencer | 10 | a tubular acoustic device inserted in the exhaust system that is designed to reduce noise | - |
| skilling | 13 | - | - |
| skillful | 15 | done with delicacy and skill | - |
| showroom | 16 | an area where merchandise (such as cars) can be displayed | in Britain a showroom is called a salesroom |
| swindled | 13 | - | - |
| seashore | 11 | the shore of a sea or ocean | - |
| subtract | 12 | make a subtraction | subtract this amount from my paycheck |
| scruples | 12 | motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions | - |
| shipyard | 17 | a workplace where ships are built or repaired | - |
| shutdown | 15 | termination of operations | - |
| sluggish | 13 | slow and apathetic | a sluggish worker |
| symmetry | 18 | (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane | - |
| spinster | 10 | an elderly unmarried woman | - |
| springer | 11 | a large spaniel with wavy silky coat usually black or liver and white | - |
| stampede | 13 | act, usually en masse, hurriedly or on an impulse | Companies will now stampede to release their latest software |
| sapphire | 15 | a light shade of blue | - |
| scrutiny | 13 | the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes) | - |
| scorched | 16 | dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight | the earth was scorched and bare |
| slacking | 15 | the evasion of work or duty | - |
| sobriety | 13 | moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs | - |
| stroking | 13 | a light touch with the hands | - |
| shambles | 15 | a building where animals are butchered | - |
| smoother | 13 | a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor | - |
| starfish | 14 | echinoderms characterized by five arms extending from a central disk | - |
| striving | 12 | an effortful attempt to attain a goal | - |
| stinging | 10 | (of speech) harsh or hurtful in tone or character | a stinging comment |
| sanction | 10 | official permission or approval | - |
| subpoena | 12 | a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court | - |
| syringes | 12 | - | - |
| spotting | 11 | the act of detecting something; catching sight of something | - |
| shilling | 12 | the basic unit of money in Somalia; equal to 100 cents | - |
| smoothie | 13 | someone with an assured and ingratiating manner | - |
| sneezing | 18 | a symptom consisting of the involuntary expulsion of air from the nose | - |
| stroller | 8 | a small vehicle with four wheels in which a baby or child is pushed around | - |
| surfaced | 14 | - | - |
| sailboat | 10 | a small sailing vessel; usually with a single mast | - |
| simplify | 18 | make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent | We had to simplify the instructions |
| smacking | 17 | the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand | - |
| snowfall | 14 | precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals | - |
| svedberg | 15 | Swedish theologian (1688-1772) | - |
| schiller | 13 | German romantic writer (1759-1805) | - |
| screamer | 12 | a very hard hit ball | - |
| senorita | 8 | a Spanish title or form of address used to or of an unmarried girl or woman; similar to the English `Miss' | - |
| sentinel | 8 | a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event | - |
| serenade | 9 | a musical composition in several movements; has no fixed form | - |
| splashed | 14 | covered with bright patches (often used in combination) | gardens splashed with color |
| shoelace | 13 | a lace used for fastening shoes | - |
| shielded | 13 | (used especially of machinery) protected by a shield to prevent injury | - |
| squabble | 21 | a quarrel about petty points | - |
| scribble | 14 | an aimless drawing | - |
| smallpox | 19 | a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars | - |
| slinging | 10 | throwing with a wide motion (as if with a sling) | - |
| stupidly | 14 | in a stupid manner | he had stupidly bought a one way ticket |
| stimulus | 10 | any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action | - |
| stiletto | 8 | a small dagger with a tapered blade | - |
| sleepers | 10 | - | - |
| slashing | 12 | as if striking with slashing blows | his slashing demon-ridden cadenza |
| slimming | 13 | - | - |
| slumming | 13 | - | - |
| soulless | 8 | lacking sensitivity or the capacity for deep feeling | - |
| stardust | 9 | a dreamy romantic or sentimental quality | - |
| scaffold | 17 | a platform from which criminals are executed (hanged or beheaded) | - |
| sculpted | 13 | cut into a desired shape | - |
| scoffing | 17 | showing your contempt by derision | - |
| sediment | 11 | matter that has been deposited by some natural process | - |
| severity | 14 | used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather | - |
| sideshow | 15 | a minor show that is part of a larger one (as at the circus) | - |
| skittles | 12 | a bowling game that is played by rolling a bowling ball down a bowling alley at a target of nine wooden pins | - |
| sampling | 13 | items selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population | - |
| spiteful | 13 | showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite | a despiteful fiend |
| spouting | 11 | propelled violently in a usually narrow stream | - |
| shelling | 12 | the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target | the shelling went on for hours without pausing |
| submerge | 13 | sink below the surface; go under or as if under water | - |
| splatter | 10 | the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively | - |
| securely | 13 | in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger | she held the child securely |
| serviced | 14 | - | - |
| swastika | 15 | the official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich; a cross with the arms bent at right angles in a clockwise direction | - |
| stowaway | 17 | a person who hides aboard a ship or plane in the hope of getting free passage | - |
| salvaged | 13 | - | - |
| squander | 18 | spend thoughtlessly; throw away | You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree |
| skimming | 17 | reading or glancing through quickly | - |
| stickler | 14 | someone who insists on something | a stickler for promptness |
| saluting | 9 | - | - |
| seawater | 11 | water containing salts | - |
| softened | 12 | being or made softer or less loud or clear | - |
| softness | 11 | the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines | - |
| snowbell | 13 | small tree native to Japan | - |
| subtlety | 13 | the quality of being difficult to detect or analyze | you had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew |
| shingles | 12 | eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia | - |
| showgirl | 15 | a woman who dances in a chorus line | - |
| sunbathe | 13 | expose one's body to the sun | - |
| shackled | 18 | bound by chains fastened around the ankles | - |
| stagnant | 9 | not growing or changing; without force or vitality | - |
| slowpoke | 17 | someone who moves slowly | in England they call a slowpoke a slowcoach |
| suckling | 15 | English poet and courtier (1609-1642) | - |
| surveyor | 14 | an engineer who determines the boundaries and elevations of land or structures | - |
| stadiums | 11 | - | - |
| sensuous | 8 | taking delight in beauty | the sensuous joy from all things fair |
| shredder | 13 | a device that shreds documents (usually in order to prevent the wrong people from reading them) | - |
| speedway | 17 | a racetrack for racing automobiles or motorcycles | - |
| suburbia | 12 | a residential district located on the outskirts of a city | - |
| sprouted | 11 | (of growing vegetation) having just emerged from the ground | the corn is sprouted |
| standoff | 15 | the act of repulsing or repelling an attack; a successful defensive stand | - |
| scarcity | 15 | a small and inadequate amount | - |
| sentient | 8 | endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness | the living knew themselves just sentient puppets on God's stage |
| sideline | 9 | a line that marks the side boundary of a playing field | - |
| sledding | 11 | advancing toward a goal | the proposal faces tough sledding |
| spaceman | 14 | a person trained to travel in a spacecraft | - |
| scripted | 13 | written as for a film or play or broadcast | - |
| singsong | 10 | uttered in a monotonous cadence or rhythm as in chanting | a singsong manner of speaking |
| snogging | 11 | (British informal) cuddle and kiss | - |
| squealer | 17 | domestic swine | - |
| seaboard | 11 | the shore of a sea or ocean regarded as a resort | - |
| sedation | 9 | the administration of a sedative agent or drug | - |
| scratchy | 18 | causing abrasion | - |
| serrated | 9 | notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex | - |
| snatcher | 13 | someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom) | - |
| somerset | 10 | an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return | - |
| systemic | 15 | affecting an entire system | a systemic poison |
| squarely | 20 | with firmness and conviction; without compromise | - |
| signaled | 10 | - | - |
| spoonful | 13 | as much as a spoon will hold | - |
| scouring | 11 | the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water | - |
| seething | 12 | in constant agitation | a seething flag-waving crowd filled the streets |
| skittish | 15 | unpredictably excitable (especially of horses) | - |
| snowsuit | 11 | a child's overgarment for cold weather | - |
| sycamore | 15 | thick-branched wide-spreading tree of Africa and adjacent southwestern Asia often buttressed with branches rising from near the ground; produces cluster of edible but inferior figs on short leafless twigs; the biblical sycamore | - |
| sensibly | 13 | with good sense or in a reasonable or intelligent manner | he acted sensibly in the crisis |
| skirmish | 17 | a minor short-term fight | - |
| straying | 12 | unable to find your way | found the straying sheep |
| spritzer | 19 | a mixed drink made of wine mixed with a sparkling water | - |
| stealthy | 14 | marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed | stealthy footsteps |
| slitting | 9 | - | - |
| strumpet | 12 | a woman adulterer | - |
| standish | 12 | English colonist in America; leader of the Pilgrims in the early days of the Plymouth Colony (1584-1656) | - |
| scorcher | 15 | a very hard hit ball | - |
| seraphim | 15 | - | - |
| skulking | 17 | evading duty or work by pretending to be incapacitated | - |
| solarium | 10 | a room enclosed largely with glass and affording exposure to the sun | - |
| songbird | 12 | any bird having a musical call | - |
| snobbish | 15 | befitting or characteristic of those who incline to social exclusiveness and who rebuff the advances of people considered inferior | - |
| stockade | 15 | a penal camp where political prisoners or prisoners of war are confined (usually under harsh conditions) | - |
| skinnier | 12 | - | - |
| succubus | 14 | a female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men | - |
| sedition | 9 | an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government | - |
| synaptic | 15 | (neuroscience) of or involving synapses | - |
| spitfire | 13 | a highly emotional and quick-tempered person (especially a girl or woman) | - |
| starship | 13 | a spacecraft designed to carry a crew into interstellar space (especially in science fiction) | - |
| scatting | 11 | - | - |
| saucepan | 12 | a deep pan with a handle; used for stewing or boiling | - |
| seashell | 11 | the shell of a marine organism | - |
| shorties | 11 | - | - |
| skinning | 13 | - | - |
| sixpence | 19 | a small coin of the United Kingdom worth six pennies; not minted since 1970 | - |
| sizeable | 19 | fairly large in size | - |
| skeletal | 12 | very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold | a nightmare population of gaunt men and skeletal boys |
| slurring | 9 | - | - |
| spectral | 12 | resembling or characteristic of a phantom | spectral emanations |
| stringer | 9 | a long horizontal timber to connect uprights | - |
| straddle | 10 | range or extend over; occupy a certain area | The plants straddle the entire state |
| stopover | 13 | a stopping place on a journey | there is a stopover to change planes in Chicago |
| sprinter | 10 | someone who runs a short distance at top speed | - |
| squatter | 17 | someone who settles lawfully on government land with the intent to acquire title to it | - |
| sciatica | 12 | neuralgia along the sciatic nerve | - |
| seamless | 10 | smooth, especially of skin | - |
| shadowed | 16 | filled with shade | the surface of the pond is dark and shadowed |
| signpost | 11 | a post bearing a sign that gives directions or shows the way | - |
| savagely | 15 | in a vicious manner | - |
| scrounge | 11 | obtain or seek to obtain by cadging or wheedling | - |
| shrunken | 15 | lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness | a shrunken old man |
| stooping | 11 | having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect | a little oldish misshapen stooping woman |
| sunstone | 8 | a translucent quartz spangled with bits of mica or other minerals | - |
| squatted | 18 | - | - |
| sporadic | 13 | recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances | a city subjected to sporadic bombing raids |
| stigmata | 11 | marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Christ | - |
| saboteur | 10 | someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks | - |
| smoothed | 14 | made smooth by ironing | - |
| sopranos | 10 | - | - |
| spanning | 11 | - | - |
| sulfuric | 13 | of or relating to or containing sulfur | - |
| subdural | 11 | below the dura mater but above the arachnoid membrane of the meninges | - |
| synopsis | 13 | a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory | - |
| satanist | 8 | an adherent of Satan or Satanism | - |
| severing | 12 | the act of severing | - |
| smallish | 13 | rather small | - |
| softener | 11 | a substance added to another to make it less hard | - |
| sobering | 11 | tending to make sober or more serious | the news had a sobering effect |
| studious | 9 | characterized by diligent study and fondness for reading | a quiet studious child |
| sukiyaki | 19 | thin beef strips (or chicken or pork) cooked briefly at the table with onions and greens and soy sauce | - |
| sonogram | 11 | an image of a structure that is produced by ultrasonography (reflections of high-frequency sound waves); used to observe fetal growth or to study bodily organs | - |
| sourpuss | 10 | someone with a habitually sullen or gloomy expression | - |
| sturgeon | 9 | large primitive fishes valued for their flesh and roe; widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone | - |
| swatting | 12 | - | - |
| superego | 11 | (psychoanalysis) that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscience | - |
| superbly | 15 | (used as an intensifier) extremely well | her voice is superbly disciplined |
| spyglass | 14 | a small refracting telescope | - |
| squiggly | 22 | wavy and twisting | - |
| splicing | 13 | a junction where two things (as paper or film or magnetic tape) have been joined together | - |
| skivvies | 18 | (used in the plural) men's underwear consisting of cotton undershirt and underpants | - |
| sinkhole | 15 | a depression in the ground communicating with a subterranean passage (especially in limestone) and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof | - |
| sombrero | 12 | a straw hat with a tall crown and broad brim; worn in American southwest and in Mexico | - |
| snuggled | 11 | drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection | like a baby snuggled in its mother's arms |
| soundman | 11 | a technician in charge of amplifying sound or producing sound effects (as for a TV or radio broadcast) | - |
| scalping | 13 | - | - |
| savagery | 15 | the trait of extreme cruelty | - |
| scullery | 13 | a small room (in large old British houses) next to the kitchen; where kitchen utensils are cleaned and kept and other rough household jobs are done | - |
| schooner | 13 | a large beer glass | - |
| scornful | 13 | expressing extreme contempt | - |
| senility | 11 | mental infirmity as a consequence of old age; sometimes shown by foolish infatuations | - |
| shearing | 12 | removing by cutting off or clipping | - |
| sightsee | 12 | visit famous or interesting sights | - |
| sneering | 9 | expressive of contempt | spoke in a sneering jeering manner |
| societal | 10 | relating to human society and its members | societal evolution |
| spangled | 12 | covered with beads or jewels or sequins | - |
| stringed | 10 | - | - |
| streaked | 13 | marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations | streaked hair |
| strainer | 8 | a filter to retain larger pieces while smaller pieces and liquids pass through | - |
| suitably | 13 | in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances | - |
| suffrage | 15 | a legal right guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the US Constitution; guaranteed to women by the 19th amendment | - |
| sanguine | 9 | confidently optimistic and cheerful | - |
| sacristy | 13 | a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept or meetings are held | - |
| schmooze | 24 | talk idly or casually and in a friendly way | - |
| savoring | 12 | taking a small amount into the mouth to test its quality | cooking was fine but it was the savoring that he enjoyed most |
| scrubber | 14 | a brush with short stiff bristles for heavy cleaning | - |
| scimitar | 12 | a curved oriental saber; the edge is on the convex side of the blade | - |
| shinning | 12 | - | - |
| shamrock | 19 | creeping European clover having white to pink flowers and bright green leaves; naturalized in United States; widely grown for forage | - |
| slowdown | 15 | the act of slowing down or falling behind | - |
| solidify | 15 | become solid | - |
| stillson | 8 | - | - |
| squeegee | 18 | T-shaped cleaning implement with a rubber edge across the top; drawn across a surface to remove water (as in washing windows) | - |
| staining | 9 | the act of spotting or staining something | - |
| schizoid | 23 | of or relating to or characteristic of schizophrenia | - |
| scavenge | 14 | collect discarded material | She scavenged the garbage cans for food |
| satanism | 10 | a belief in and reverence for devils (especially Satan) | - |
| sexiness | 15 | the arousal of feelings of sexual desire | - |
| skirting | 13 | being all around the edges; enclosing | the room's skirting board needs painting |
| slanting | 9 | having an oblique or slanted direction | - |
| sodomite | 11 | someone who engages in anal copulation (especially a male who engages in anal copulation with another male) | - |
| specious | 12 | plausible but false | a specious claim |
| spearman | 12 | - | - |
| speculum | 14 | a medical instrument for dilating a bodily passage or cavity in order to examine the interior | - |
| sunblock | 16 | a cream spread on the skin; contains a chemical (as PABA) to filter out ultraviolet light and so protect from sunburn | - |
| spurious | 10 | plausible but false | spurious inferences |
| sponging | 12 | - | - |
| sailfish | 14 | a saltwater fish with lean flesh | - |
| sheeting | 12 | fabric from which bed sheets are made | - |
| shetland | 12 | an archipelago of about 100 islands in the North Atlantic off the north coast of Scotland | - |
| shoplift | 16 | steal in a store | - |
| shrewdly | 18 | in a shrewd manner | - |
| sorriest | 8 | - | - |
| subspace | 14 | a space that is contained within another space | - |
| sufferer | 14 | one who suffers for the sake of principle | - |
| stylized | 21 | using artistic forms and conventions to create effects; not natural or spontaneous | a stylized mode of theater production |
| swerving | 15 | the act of turning aside suddenly | - |
| surefire | 11 | - | - |
| spurting | 11 | propelled violently in a usually narrow stream | - |
| staccato | 12 | (music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply | staccato applause |
| squeaker | 21 | something achieved (or escaped) by a narrow margin | - |
| stemming | 13 | - | - |
| sanctify | 16 | render holy by means of religious rites | - |
| semolina | 10 | milled product of durum wheat (or other hard wheat) used in pasta | - |
| searcher | 13 | someone making a search or inquiry | - |
