Primordial Alphabet Soup
Darwinism requires acceptance of several key ideas. (1) Small changes are always possible. (2) Random searching can locate beneficial changes close to the starting point because the search volume of hyperspace is small if one doesn’t try to go very far on each step. (3) The gradual accumulation of advantages will eventually lead far afield into some new species.
We can illustrate both the possibilities and the limits of this argument with a word game I have adapted to this purpose. I call it “Primordial Alphabet Soup.” Here are the rules of the game. Draw letters at random out of a large supply, much as a child may find a letter at a time in alphabet soup.[1] Put any two letters together if they form a two-letter English word. Then, add any letter to any of the existing two-letter words, either at the beginning or the end of the word, but only if the added letter forms a three-letter English word. Continue building up four-letter words from the three-letter words, five-letter words from the four-letter words, etc., always following the same procedure, and stop only when it is impossible to form any longer words. Don’t put any letters within existing words. Add letters only before the beginning or after the end of an existing word. Do not form proper names or hyphenated words. The object of the game is to form as many words as possible. Also, the score for each word is equal to its length. Two-letter words count for two points, three-letter words for three points, etc. One can offer a special prize for the longest word.
[1] There is a kind of spaghetti preformed into letters of the alphabet. When this is cooked until soft and put into soup, one may draw out letters one at a time and arrange them into words on the edge of the soup bowl. If the soup is not transparent, for instance, if it is thick tomato soup, the drawing is random.
How many English words can be built up this way, and what is the longest word one can form? I researched these questions with a short program I wrote in BASIC. The BASIC program does not form words at random. To save time, it simply produces all possible variations of accepted words. I started with the set of all possible two-letter sequences. (Letter sequences are called “strings” in computer jargon, whether or not they are words in any known language.) These are "aa," "ab," "ac," … through "az," then "ba," "bb," "bc," … through "bz," and so forth, all the way to "za," "zb," "zc," … through "zz." There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and 26 squared is equal to 676. I started with that number of two-letter strings separated by spaces.
To identify English words, I used the spelling checker that comes with my word processor. When I checked the list for spelling, the spelling checker rejected most of the strings of letters, and I struck them out. I also had to remove by hand a number of common abbreviations like "pd" for “paid,” and Roman numerals like "ii," "iv," "vi," "ix," "il," "vl," "xl," … through "mm, but I had to remember that the Roman numeral "xi" is also the name of a Greek letter and that 1001 in Roman numerals, "mi," is the name of a musical note. The result was a list of 59 two-letter English words, as follows:
We can illustrate both the possibilities and the limits of this argument with a word game I have adapted to this purpose. I call it “Primordial Alphabet Soup.” Here are the rules of the game. Draw letters at random out of a large supply, much as a child may find a letter at a time in alphabet soup.[1] Put any two letters together if they form a two-letter English word. Then, add any letter to any of the existing two-letter words, either at the beginning or the end of the word, but only if the added letter forms a three-letter English word. Continue building up four-letter words from the three-letter words, five-letter words from the four-letter words, etc., always following the same procedure, and stop only when it is impossible to form any longer words. Don’t put any letters within existing words. Add letters only before the beginning or after the end of an existing word. Do not form proper names or hyphenated words. The object of the game is to form as many words as possible. Also, the score for each word is equal to its length. Two-letter words count for two points, three-letter words for three points, etc. One can offer a special prize for the longest word.
[1] There is a kind of spaghetti preformed into letters of the alphabet. When this is cooked until soft and put into soup, one may draw out letters one at a time and arrange them into words on the edge of the soup bowl. If the soup is not transparent, for instance, if it is thick tomato soup, the drawing is random.
How many English words can be built up this way, and what is the longest word one can form? I researched these questions with a short program I wrote in BASIC. The BASIC program does not form words at random. To save time, it simply produces all possible variations of accepted words. I started with the set of all possible two-letter sequences. (Letter sequences are called “strings” in computer jargon, whether or not they are words in any known language.) These are "aa," "ab," "ac," … through "az," then "ba," "bb," "bc," … through "bz," and so forth, all the way to "za," "zb," "zc," … through "zz." There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and 26 squared is equal to 676. I started with that number of two-letter strings separated by spaces.
To identify English words, I used the spelling checker that comes with my word processor. When I checked the list for spelling, the spelling checker rejected most of the strings of letters, and I struck them out. I also had to remove by hand a number of common abbreviations like "pd" for “paid,” and Roman numerals like "ii," "iv," "vi," "ix," "il," "vl," "xl," … through "mm, but I had to remember that the Roman numeral "xi" is also the name of a Greek letter and that 1001 in Roman numerals, "mi," is the name of a musical note. The result was a list of 59 two-letter English words, as follows:
My spelling checker does not include all the English words found in an unabridged dictionary. Everyone is invited to add to my list. Additions, however, will not change the general conclusions we will reach.
The next step was to run the list of accepted two-letter English words through my BASIC program. The program prefixed each of the twenty-six letters of the alphabet one at a time to each of the accepted words. It also suffixed each of the twenty-six letters to the accepted words. This made 52 new strings of three letters for each accepted two-letter word. I ran the new list of three-letter strings through the spelling checker and found a list of 340 three-letter words (again, after striking out by hand abbreviations and Roman numerals). I continued in this way and generated lists of four-letter English words, five-letter English words, and so forth. These lists appear on the Appendix page. What was the surprising result?
A typical “collegiate” English dictionary contains 60,000 words. The number of words in any dictionary should be multiplied by 2 or 3 or more to include unlisted regular plurals and regular verb endings. A random process that generates English words should come up with at least 150,000 words. But Primordial Alphabet Soup didn’t come close to making that number. There are 833 four-letter English words with an accepted English word either in the first or the last three letters. The sequence peaks at 859 five-letter words, and then falls rapidly. The 12 eight-letter words are as follows:
The next step was to run the list of accepted two-letter English words through my BASIC program. The program prefixed each of the twenty-six letters of the alphabet one at a time to each of the accepted words. It also suffixed each of the twenty-six letters to the accepted words. This made 52 new strings of three letters for each accepted two-letter word. I ran the new list of three-letter strings through the spelling checker and found a list of 340 three-letter words (again, after striking out by hand abbreviations and Roman numerals). I continued in this way and generated lists of four-letter English words, five-letter English words, and so forth. These lists appear on the Appendix page. What was the surprising result?
A typical “collegiate” English dictionary contains 60,000 words. The number of words in any dictionary should be multiplied by 2 or 3 or more to include unlisted regular plurals and regular verb endings. A random process that generates English words should come up with at least 150,000 words. But Primordial Alphabet Soup didn’t come close to making that number. There are 833 four-letter English words with an accepted English word either in the first or the last three letters. The sequence peaks at 859 five-letter words, and then falls rapidly. The 12 eight-letter words are as follows:
The longest English word one may generate under the rules is "prestated," just nine letters long. The full series was 59, 340, 833, 859, 406, 86, 12, 1, ranging from 59 two-letter words through 1 nine-letter word. The number of words increases to a maximum of 859 five-letter words and then diminishes again. The sum of these numbers is 2,596.
Allowing single-letter changes or insertions or deletions within words would permit forming more long words. Any relaxation of the restrictions should increase the number of possible words one can make with Primordial Alphabet Soup. Additional restrictions work the other way. If we had restricted the words to those that can be formed by adding one letter to the end (instead of adding one letter to either end) the lists of formable words would be even shorter. The rules we chose illustrate the idea of increasing complexity by adding to existing functional structure. Whatever rules we chose, we see the following point. Restricting Darwinist development to small changes limits severely the achievable complexity. Darwinism cannot rely on simultaneous changes of several variables at a time because the probability of simultaneous random changes is too small to take into account. Trillions or quadrillions of years would not be long enough. Darwinism’s restriction of one small change at a time imposes a strong limit on the achievable complexity.
Notice that the analysis of Primordial Alphabet Soup does not depend on probability but possibility. Under the restrictive rules of prefixing or suffixing one letter at a time to existing English words one simply cannot construct all English words, or any English words longer than a certain length.
Allowing single-letter changes or insertions or deletions within words would permit forming more long words. Any relaxation of the restrictions should increase the number of possible words one can make with Primordial Alphabet Soup. Additional restrictions work the other way. If we had restricted the words to those that can be formed by adding one letter to the end (instead of adding one letter to either end) the lists of formable words would be even shorter. The rules we chose illustrate the idea of increasing complexity by adding to existing functional structure. Whatever rules we chose, we see the following point. Restricting Darwinist development to small changes limits severely the achievable complexity. Darwinism cannot rely on simultaneous changes of several variables at a time because the probability of simultaneous random changes is too small to take into account. Trillions or quadrillions of years would not be long enough. Darwinism’s restriction of one small change at a time imposes a strong limit on the achievable complexity.
Notice that the analysis of Primordial Alphabet Soup does not depend on probability but possibility. Under the restrictive rules of prefixing or suffixing one letter at a time to existing English words one simply cannot construct all English words, or any English words longer than a certain length.
Full Listing for Primordial Alphabet Soup
59 Two-Letter English Words
ad ah am an as at aw ax ay be bi by do eh el em en et ex fa go ha he hi ho id if in is it la li lo ma me mi mu my no nu of oh ok on or ox pa pi re so ti to uh um up us we xi ye
340 Three-Letter English Words
add ado ads adz ago aha ahs aid ala ama amp and ant any are ash ask asp ass ate awe awl awn axe aye bad bah ban bas bat bay bed bee beg bet bib bid big bin bio bit biz box bum bus bye bys cad cam can cat caw cay chi con cum cup dad dam day den did din doc doe dog don dos dot dup dye eat eel ego elf elk ell elm end eon ere eth ewe eye fad fan far fat fax fen fid fin fit for fox gad gam gas gat gay gel gem get gin gnu gob god goo got goy gum had hag hah ham hap has hat haw hay hem hen her hew hex hey hid him hip his hit hob hod hoe hog hop hot how hoy huh hum ids ifs ink inn ins ion ire ism its jam jaw jay jet ken kid kin kit lab lad lag lam lap las law lax lay let lib lid lie lip lis lit lob log lop los lot low lox lye mad man map mar mat maw may med men met mew mho mid mil mix mud mug mum nah nay net nit nod nor not now nub nun nut oat obi off oft ohm one ooh orb ore ors ort owe oxy pad pal pan pap par pas pat paw pay pen pet phi pie pig pin pip pit pix pox pup pus rah ram ran rat raw ray red ref rep ret rev rex rho rid rum rye sad sat saw sax say set sex she sin sis sit sob sod sol son sop sot sow sox soy spa sum sup tad tam tan tat taw tax ten the tic tin tip tit toe tog tom ton too top tot tow toy ump ups use van vas vat vet vex wad wan was wax way web wed wee wen wet who win wit wok won yam yaw yea yen yep yes yet yew yin yon yup zit
833 Four-Letter English Words
abed abet adds adze afar agog ahem ahoy aide aids akin alas alit amah amen amid amps ands anta ante anti ants area arid arum ashy asks asps atom atop away awed awes awls awns axed axel axes ayes bade band bane bang bank bans bare base bash bask bass bast bate bath bats bawl bays beat beds beef been beep beer bees beet begs bell bend beta bets bibs bide bids bind bins bite bits blab blip blob blot blow boat bone bore boxy bran brat braw bray bred bump bums bush buss bust busy byes cads came camp cams cane cans cant care cash cask cats caws cays cell chap chat chaw chew chic chin chip chit chop chow chum clad clam clap claw clay clip clog clop clot coat cone conk cons cony core cram craw cups dado dads dame damn damp dams dare dash date dawn days dell dens dent deny dhow dido dine ding dink dins dint dire dock docs doer does doff doge dogs done dong dons dose doss dost dote doth dots doxy dram drat draw dray drum dump dupe dyed dyer dyes eats eels eely egad egos elks ells elms ends eons eths ewer ewes eyed eyen eyes fade fads fane fang fans fare farm faro fart fate fats fawn feat feel fell fend fens fids find fine fink fins fire fits flab flag flam flap flaw flax flay flip flit flog flop flow ford fore fork form fort foxy frat fray fuse gads gala gama game gams gamy gash gasp gate gats gays geld gels gems gets gink gins glad glib glob glow gnus goat gobo gobs goby gods gone good goof gook goon goop gore goys gram gray grid gums hags hams hand haps hare hash hasp hast hate hath hats hawk haws hays heat heel hell helm hemp hems hens herb herd here herm hero hers hewn hews hide hips hire hiss hits hobo hobs hods hoed hoer hoes hogs hone hope hops hors howl hoys hump hums icon inks inky inns ions isms itsy jamb jams jaws jays jell jets jinn jump keel keno kens kids kina kind king kink kite kith kits knit knot know labs lade lads lady lags laid lama lamb lame lamp lams land laps lash lass last late lawn laws lays lend lets lido lids lied lien lies lieu link lion lips lire lisp list lobe lobo lobs loft loge logo logs logy lone lope lops lore lose loss lost lots lows lump made maid mama mane mans many maps marc mare mark marl mars mart mash mask mass mate math mats matt maws maya meat mend menu mere mete mewl mews mhos midi mild mile milk mill mils milt mink mire moat more mort mugs mump mums muse nays neat neon nets nits node nods none norm note nubs nuns nuts oath oats obis obit offs ohms oink omen ones opal open opus orbs ores orts owed owes pads paid pale pall palm pals pane pang pans pant papa pare park pars part pass past pate path pats pawl pawn paws pays peat peel pelf pens pent peon pets phew pied pier pies pigs pine ping pink pins pint pipe pips pita pith pits pity pixy play plop plot plow pone pooh pore port pram pray prep pupa pups push puss raid ramp rams rang rank rant rare rash rasp rate rats rays redo reds reel refs rend reps revs ride rids rink rump rums ruse ryes sago said sand sash sass sate sati sawn saws says scam scan scat scum scup seat sego self sell send sere seta sets sexy shad shag shah sham shat shay shed shim ship shit shod shoe shop shot show sine sing sink sins sire site sits skid skin skit slab slag slam slap slaw slay slid slip slit slob slog slop slot slow smug snit snot snow snub soba sobs soda sods soft sola sold sole solo sols song sons sops sorb sore sort sots sown sows span spar spas spat spay spin spit stat stop stow sumo sump sums sups swan sway tads tame tamp tams tang tank tans tare task tats taws taxi teat tell tend tens tent tick tics that thaw thee them then they this tine ting tins tint tiny tipi tips tire tits toed toes toga togs tomb tome toms tone tong tons took tool toot tope tops tore tort tote tots town tows toys tram tray twin twit umps unit used user uses vamp vane vans vase vast vats vend veto vets wade wads wand wane want ware wash wasp waxy ways webs weds weed week weep well wend wens went were wets wham whap what when whew whey whim whip whit whoa whom whop wind wine wing wink wino wins winy wire with wits woke woks wont wore wyes yams yare yawl yawn yawp yaws yeah yean year yeas yell yens yeti yews yond yoni yore zany ziti zits zone
859 Five-Letter English Words
abase abash abate abets abide adzed adzes afire afore agate aglow aided aides alien aloft alone amahs amass amend amide amuse anode anted antes antic antis antsy apart aping areas arums atoms atomy atone aware awash awing awoke axels bands bandy banes bangs banks bared barer bares based baser bases basks basso baste bated bates bathe baths bawls beats beefs beefy beeps beers beery beets belle bells belly bends bendy betas bided bides bidet binds biter bites bitsy blabs blade blame bland blast blend blink blobs blots blown blows boats boned boner bones bored borer bores bowed braid brand brash brats brawl brawn brays bride brink bumps bumpy bused buses bushy busts busty camel cameo camps caned caner canes canst canto cants cared cares caret casks cawed cello cells chaps chare chats chaws cheat chews chewy chick chide china chine chink chino chins chips chits chops chows chump chums clamp clams claps clash class claws clays clink clips clogs clone clops close cloth clots clump coati coats coned cones conks cored corer cores cowed cramp crams crank crash crate crawl credo creel crump cruse dames damns damps dared dares dated dater dates dense dente dents dhows dined diner dines dingo dings dingy dinks dinky dints direr docks doers doest doffs dongs dosed doses doted doter dotes drama drams drank drawl drawn draws drays drink drums dumps dumpy duped duper dupes dwell dyers eking eland elate elope emend ewers faded fader fades fanes fangs fared fares farms faros farts fated fates fatso fawns faxed faxes feats fends fewer finds fined finer fines finks fired firer fires flags flame flaps flash flaws flays flits flogs flops flown flows flump forbs fordo fords forks forma forms forte forth forts forty frank frays fused fusel fuser fuses gamed games gasps gated gates glade gland glass globe globs gloss glows goats gobos goner goods goody goofs goofy gooks goons goops goopy gored gores grams grant grasp grate grays grids grump hands handy hared harem hares hasps hasty hated hater hates hawed hawks hawse heath heats hello herbs herds herms heron hewer hider hides hired hirer hires hobos hoers honed hones honey hoped hoper hopes horse horst horsy howls humps humpy icons irate jambs jawed jells jelly jinni keels kenos keyed kinds kings kinks kinky kited kites knits knots known knows laded laden lades lamas lambs lamed lamer lames lamps lands lapse lasso lasts later latex lawns lawny lends liens links lions lisps lists llama loath lobed lobes lobos lofts lofty loges logos loner loped lopes loser loses lowed lumps maids mamas manes manse manta march marcs mares marks marls marsh marts masks massy mated mater mates matte meats meaty mends menus meted meter metes mewls midis miler miles milks milky mille mills milts minks mired mires moats morel mores mowed mumps mused muses newer nodes nopal norms noted notes oaths obits oinks omens opals opens opine orate owing ozone paled paler pales palls palms palsy paned panel panes pangs pansy pants panty papal papas papaw pared pares parka parks parse parts party pasta paste pasts pasty paten pates paths patsy pawed pawls pawns peaty peels peons peony phone piers pined pines piney pings pinks pinta pinto pints piped piper pipes piths pithy plaid plash plate playa plays plied plies plink plops plots plows plump pored pores ports prams prang prank prate prays preps pride prink pumps pupae pupas pushy pussy raids ramps range rangy ranks rants rarer rasps raspy rated rater rates reels rends rider rides rinks rowed rumps ruses sands sandy sassy sated sates satin sawed saxes scads scamp scams scans scant scare scats scone score scram scups seats segos sells sends serer setae sewer shade shads shady shags shahs shame shams share shays sheds shell shims ships shire shits shoed shoes shone shops shots shown shows showy sinew singe sings sinks sired siren sires sited sites skids skink skins skits slabs slams slaps slash slate slaws slays slide slink slits slobs slogs slope slops sloth slots slows slump smart smash smile snits snots snows snowy snubs sodas softy solar soled soles solon solos songs sorbs sorer sores sorts sowed spank spans spare spark spars spasm spate spats spawn spays spent spied spies spine spins spiny spite spits splay spore sport spray stamp stank stare state stats stick sting stint stone stool stops store stows stray sumps swank swans swash sways sweep swell swine swing swore tamed tamer tames tamps tango tangs tangy tanks tansy tares tasks taxed taxes taxis teats tells tends tense tenth tents thaws theme there thump ticks tined tines tinge tings tints tipis tipsy tired tires togas tombs tomes toned toner tones tongs tools tooth toots toped toper topes torte torts toted totem totes towed towns tramp trams trash trays trend trump tweed twine twins twits unite units unity users using vamps vanes vases vends vowed waded wader wades wands waned wanes wants wares washy wasps waxed waxes weeds weedy weeks weeps weepy wells wends whams whaps wheat wheel whelm where whims whips white whops winds windy wined wines wings winks winos wired wirer wires woken women wowed yawed yawls yawns yawps yearn years yeast yells yetis zoned zones
406 Six-Letter English Words
abased abases abated abates abided abider abides abused abuses aflame agates aliens amends amides amused amuser amuses anodes antics arider aslope astray atoned atoner atones avowed awoken barest basest bassos basted bastes bathed bather bathes belled belles bidets biters bladed blades blamed blamer blames blasts blends blinks blowsy boners borate borers bowing braids brands brandy brawls brawly brawns brawny brides brinks browed busing camass camels cameos caners canted canton cantor cantos caress carets cawing cellos chares cheats chewer chicks chided chider chides chines chinks chinos chumps clamed clamps classy clinks cloned clones closed closer closes closet clothe cloths clumps clumpy coatis corers cowing cramps cranks cranky crated crater crates crawls crawly credos creels crowed cruses daters denser dented diners doters dramas drawls drawly drinks druses dwells elands elapse elated elates eloped elopes emends espied espies estate faders finery finest firers flamed flames flashy flowed flumps formal format forted fortes franks frumps fusels fusers fusing gamest gaping glades glands glassy globed globes glossy glowed goners gramps grange grants grasps grated grater grates grumps grumpy harems haters hawing hawser hawses heaths hellos herons hiders hirers honest honeys hopers horsed horses japing jawing lamest lapsed lapser lapses lassos llamas loathe loners losers lowing manses mantas mantic mantis marshy maters matted matter mattes meters milled morels mowing musing oblast opined opines orange orated orates palest panels panted papaws parkas parsec parsed pastas pasted pastel pastes patens patent pawing phoned phones pintos pipers pirate plaids plated platen plates playas plinks plowed prangs pranks prated prater prates prided prides prinks raided ranged ranger ranges ranted raping raters relate riders rowing sating satins satiny sawing scampi scamps scants scanty scared scares scones scored scores scrams sewers shaded shades shamed shames shared sharer shares sheath shells shelly shires sinews sinewy singed singer singes sirens skinks slated slates slider slides slinks slinky sloped slopes slowed slumps smarts smarty smiles smiley solons sorest sowing spanks spared sparer spares sparks sparse spasms spates spawns spines spinet spited spites splash splays spores sports sporty sprang sprays stamps stared stares stated states sticks sticky stings stingy stints stoned stoner stones stools stored stores stowed strays swanks swanky sweeps swells swings swingy tamers tamest tangos taping tensed tenser tenses tenths thawed themed themes thumps tinged tinges toners toothy topers tortes totems towing tramps trashy trends trendy trumps tweeds tweedy twined twines united unites uplink vowing wanted wheels whelms whimsy whited whiten whiter whites whitey wirers wowing yawing yearns yeasts yeasty
86 Seven-Letter English Words
abiders abusing amusers amusing ashamed atoners avowing bathers belated blamers blowing borated borates bowings braided cantons cantors chiders closers closest closets clothes craters crowing draping elapsed elapses estates flowing formals formats fraters gestate glowing granger granges granted graters growing hawsers honesty lapsers loathed loather loathes matters musings oblasts oranges parsecs pastels patents pirated pirates platens plowing prelate rangers relapse related relater relates restate scanted scorers scrawls sharers sheathe sheaths singers sliders slowing smatter sowings sparest sparser spinets splashy stoners stowing tensest testate thawing whitens whitest whiteys
12 Eight-Letter English Words
gestated grangers plowings prelates prestate relapsed relapses relaters restated sheathed sheathes smatters
1 Nine-Letter English Word
prestated
59 Two-Letter English Words
ad ah am an as at aw ax ay be bi by do eh el em en et ex fa go ha he hi ho id if in is it la li lo ma me mi mu my no nu of oh ok on or ox pa pi re so ti to uh um up us we xi ye
340 Three-Letter English Words
add ado ads adz ago aha ahs aid ala ama amp and ant any are ash ask asp ass ate awe awl awn axe aye bad bah ban bas bat bay bed bee beg bet bib bid big bin bio bit biz box bum bus bye bys cad cam can cat caw cay chi con cum cup dad dam day den did din doc doe dog don dos dot dup dye eat eel ego elf elk ell elm end eon ere eth ewe eye fad fan far fat fax fen fid fin fit for fox gad gam gas gat gay gel gem get gin gnu gob god goo got goy gum had hag hah ham hap has hat haw hay hem hen her hew hex hey hid him hip his hit hob hod hoe hog hop hot how hoy huh hum ids ifs ink inn ins ion ire ism its jam jaw jay jet ken kid kin kit lab lad lag lam lap las law lax lay let lib lid lie lip lis lit lob log lop los lot low lox lye mad man map mar mat maw may med men met mew mho mid mil mix mud mug mum nah nay net nit nod nor not now nub nun nut oat obi off oft ohm one ooh orb ore ors ort owe oxy pad pal pan pap par pas pat paw pay pen pet phi pie pig pin pip pit pix pox pup pus rah ram ran rat raw ray red ref rep ret rev rex rho rid rum rye sad sat saw sax say set sex she sin sis sit sob sod sol son sop sot sow sox soy spa sum sup tad tam tan tat taw tax ten the tic tin tip tit toe tog tom ton too top tot tow toy ump ups use van vas vat vet vex wad wan was wax way web wed wee wen wet who win wit wok won yam yaw yea yen yep yes yet yew yin yon yup zit
833 Four-Letter English Words
abed abet adds adze afar agog ahem ahoy aide aids akin alas alit amah amen amid amps ands anta ante anti ants area arid arum ashy asks asps atom atop away awed awes awls awns axed axel axes ayes bade band bane bang bank bans bare base bash bask bass bast bate bath bats bawl bays beat beds beef been beep beer bees beet begs bell bend beta bets bibs bide bids bind bins bite bits blab blip blob blot blow boat bone bore boxy bran brat braw bray bred bump bums bush buss bust busy byes cads came camp cams cane cans cant care cash cask cats caws cays cell chap chat chaw chew chic chin chip chit chop chow chum clad clam clap claw clay clip clog clop clot coat cone conk cons cony core cram craw cups dado dads dame damn damp dams dare dash date dawn days dell dens dent deny dhow dido dine ding dink dins dint dire dock docs doer does doff doge dogs done dong dons dose doss dost dote doth dots doxy dram drat draw dray drum dump dupe dyed dyer dyes eats eels eely egad egos elks ells elms ends eons eths ewer ewes eyed eyen eyes fade fads fane fang fans fare farm faro fart fate fats fawn feat feel fell fend fens fids find fine fink fins fire fits flab flag flam flap flaw flax flay flip flit flog flop flow ford fore fork form fort foxy frat fray fuse gads gala gama game gams gamy gash gasp gate gats gays geld gels gems gets gink gins glad glib glob glow gnus goat gobo gobs goby gods gone good goof gook goon goop gore goys gram gray grid gums hags hams hand haps hare hash hasp hast hate hath hats hawk haws hays heat heel hell helm hemp hems hens herb herd here herm hero hers hewn hews hide hips hire hiss hits hobo hobs hods hoed hoer hoes hogs hone hope hops hors howl hoys hump hums icon inks inky inns ions isms itsy jamb jams jaws jays jell jets jinn jump keel keno kens kids kina kind king kink kite kith kits knit knot know labs lade lads lady lags laid lama lamb lame lamp lams land laps lash lass last late lawn laws lays lend lets lido lids lied lien lies lieu link lion lips lire lisp list lobe lobo lobs loft loge logo logs logy lone lope lops lore lose loss lost lots lows lump made maid mama mane mans many maps marc mare mark marl mars mart mash mask mass mate math mats matt maws maya meat mend menu mere mete mewl mews mhos midi mild mile milk mill mils milt mink mire moat more mort mugs mump mums muse nays neat neon nets nits node nods none norm note nubs nuns nuts oath oats obis obit offs ohms oink omen ones opal open opus orbs ores orts owed owes pads paid pale pall palm pals pane pang pans pant papa pare park pars part pass past pate path pats pawl pawn paws pays peat peel pelf pens pent peon pets phew pied pier pies pigs pine ping pink pins pint pipe pips pita pith pits pity pixy play plop plot plow pone pooh pore port pram pray prep pupa pups push puss raid ramp rams rang rank rant rare rash rasp rate rats rays redo reds reel refs rend reps revs ride rids rink rump rums ruse ryes sago said sand sash sass sate sati sawn saws says scam scan scat scum scup seat sego self sell send sere seta sets sexy shad shag shah sham shat shay shed shim ship shit shod shoe shop shot show sine sing sink sins sire site sits skid skin skit slab slag slam slap slaw slay slid slip slit slob slog slop slot slow smug snit snot snow snub soba sobs soda sods soft sola sold sole solo sols song sons sops sorb sore sort sots sown sows span spar spas spat spay spin spit stat stop stow sumo sump sums sups swan sway tads tame tamp tams tang tank tans tare task tats taws taxi teat tell tend tens tent tick tics that thaw thee them then they this tine ting tins tint tiny tipi tips tire tits toed toes toga togs tomb tome toms tone tong tons took tool toot tope tops tore tort tote tots town tows toys tram tray twin twit umps unit used user uses vamp vane vans vase vast vats vend veto vets wade wads wand wane want ware wash wasp waxy ways webs weds weed week weep well wend wens went were wets wham whap what when whew whey whim whip whit whoa whom whop wind wine wing wink wino wins winy wire with wits woke woks wont wore wyes yams yare yawl yawn yawp yaws yeah yean year yeas yell yens yeti yews yond yoni yore zany ziti zits zone
859 Five-Letter English Words
abase abash abate abets abide adzed adzes afire afore agate aglow aided aides alien aloft alone amahs amass amend amide amuse anode anted antes antic antis antsy apart aping areas arums atoms atomy atone aware awash awing awoke axels bands bandy banes bangs banks bared barer bares based baser bases basks basso baste bated bates bathe baths bawls beats beefs beefy beeps beers beery beets belle bells belly bends bendy betas bided bides bidet binds biter bites bitsy blabs blade blame bland blast blend blink blobs blots blown blows boats boned boner bones bored borer bores bowed braid brand brash brats brawl brawn brays bride brink bumps bumpy bused buses bushy busts busty camel cameo camps caned caner canes canst canto cants cared cares caret casks cawed cello cells chaps chare chats chaws cheat chews chewy chick chide china chine chink chino chins chips chits chops chows chump chums clamp clams claps clash class claws clays clink clips clogs clone clops close cloth clots clump coati coats coned cones conks cored corer cores cowed cramp crams crank crash crate crawl credo creel crump cruse dames damns damps dared dares dated dater dates dense dente dents dhows dined diner dines dingo dings dingy dinks dinky dints direr docks doers doest doffs dongs dosed doses doted doter dotes drama drams drank drawl drawn draws drays drink drums dumps dumpy duped duper dupes dwell dyers eking eland elate elope emend ewers faded fader fades fanes fangs fared fares farms faros farts fated fates fatso fawns faxed faxes feats fends fewer finds fined finer fines finks fired firer fires flags flame flaps flash flaws flays flits flogs flops flown flows flump forbs fordo fords forks forma forms forte forth forts forty frank frays fused fusel fuser fuses gamed games gasps gated gates glade gland glass globe globs gloss glows goats gobos goner goods goody goofs goofy gooks goons goops goopy gored gores grams grant grasp grate grays grids grump hands handy hared harem hares hasps hasty hated hater hates hawed hawks hawse heath heats hello herbs herds herms heron hewer hider hides hired hirer hires hobos hoers honed hones honey hoped hoper hopes horse horst horsy howls humps humpy icons irate jambs jawed jells jelly jinni keels kenos keyed kinds kings kinks kinky kited kites knits knots known knows laded laden lades lamas lambs lamed lamer lames lamps lands lapse lasso lasts later latex lawns lawny lends liens links lions lisps lists llama loath lobed lobes lobos lofts lofty loges logos loner loped lopes loser loses lowed lumps maids mamas manes manse manta march marcs mares marks marls marsh marts masks massy mated mater mates matte meats meaty mends menus meted meter metes mewls midis miler miles milks milky mille mills milts minks mired mires moats morel mores mowed mumps mused muses newer nodes nopal norms noted notes oaths obits oinks omens opals opens opine orate owing ozone paled paler pales palls palms palsy paned panel panes pangs pansy pants panty papal papas papaw pared pares parka parks parse parts party pasta paste pasts pasty paten pates paths patsy pawed pawls pawns peaty peels peons peony phone piers pined pines piney pings pinks pinta pinto pints piped piper pipes piths pithy plaid plash plate playa plays plied plies plink plops plots plows plump pored pores ports prams prang prank prate prays preps pride prink pumps pupae pupas pushy pussy raids ramps range rangy ranks rants rarer rasps raspy rated rater rates reels rends rider rides rinks rowed rumps ruses sands sandy sassy sated sates satin sawed saxes scads scamp scams scans scant scare scats scone score scram scups seats segos sells sends serer setae sewer shade shads shady shags shahs shame shams share shays sheds shell shims ships shire shits shoed shoes shone shops shots shown shows showy sinew singe sings sinks sired siren sires sited sites skids skink skins skits slabs slams slaps slash slate slaws slays slide slink slits slobs slogs slope slops sloth slots slows slump smart smash smile snits snots snows snowy snubs sodas softy solar soled soles solon solos songs sorbs sorer sores sorts sowed spank spans spare spark spars spasm spate spats spawn spays spent spied spies spine spins spiny spite spits splay spore sport spray stamp stank stare state stats stick sting stint stone stool stops store stows stray sumps swank swans swash sways sweep swell swine swing swore tamed tamer tames tamps tango tangs tangy tanks tansy tares tasks taxed taxes taxis teats tells tends tense tenth tents thaws theme there thump ticks tined tines tinge tings tints tipis tipsy tired tires togas tombs tomes toned toner tones tongs tools tooth toots toped toper topes torte torts toted totem totes towed towns tramp trams trash trays trend trump tweed twine twins twits unite units unity users using vamps vanes vases vends vowed waded wader wades wands waned wanes wants wares washy wasps waxed waxes weeds weedy weeks weeps weepy wells wends whams whaps wheat wheel whelm where whims whips white whops winds windy wined wines wings winks winos wired wirer wires woken women wowed yawed yawls yawns yawps yearn years yeast yells yetis zoned zones
406 Six-Letter English Words
abased abases abated abates abided abider abides abused abuses aflame agates aliens amends amides amused amuser amuses anodes antics arider aslope astray atoned atoner atones avowed awoken barest basest bassos basted bastes bathed bather bathes belled belles bidets biters bladed blades blamed blamer blames blasts blends blinks blowsy boners borate borers bowing braids brands brandy brawls brawly brawns brawny brides brinks browed busing camass camels cameos caners canted canton cantor cantos caress carets cawing cellos chares cheats chewer chicks chided chider chides chines chinks chinos chumps clamed clamps classy clinks cloned clones closed closer closes closet clothe cloths clumps clumpy coatis corers cowing cramps cranks cranky crated crater crates crawls crawly credos creels crowed cruses daters denser dented diners doters dramas drawls drawly drinks druses dwells elands elapse elated elates eloped elopes emends espied espies estate faders finery finest firers flamed flames flashy flowed flumps formal format forted fortes franks frumps fusels fusers fusing gamest gaping glades glands glassy globed globes glossy glowed goners gramps grange grants grasps grated grater grates grumps grumpy harems haters hawing hawser hawses heaths hellos herons hiders hirers honest honeys hopers horsed horses japing jawing lamest lapsed lapser lapses lassos llamas loathe loners losers lowing manses mantas mantic mantis marshy maters matted matter mattes meters milled morels mowing musing oblast opined opines orange orated orates palest panels panted papaws parkas parsec parsed pastas pasted pastel pastes patens patent pawing phoned phones pintos pipers pirate plaids plated platen plates playas plinks plowed prangs pranks prated prater prates prided prides prinks raided ranged ranger ranges ranted raping raters relate riders rowing sating satins satiny sawing scampi scamps scants scanty scared scares scones scored scores scrams sewers shaded shades shamed shames shared sharer shares sheath shells shelly shires sinews sinewy singed singer singes sirens skinks slated slates slider slides slinks slinky sloped slopes slowed slumps smarts smarty smiles smiley solons sorest sowing spanks spared sparer spares sparks sparse spasms spates spawns spines spinet spited spites splash splays spores sports sporty sprang sprays stamps stared stares stated states sticks sticky stings stingy stints stoned stoner stones stools stored stores stowed strays swanks swanky sweeps swells swings swingy tamers tamest tangos taping tensed tenser tenses tenths thawed themed themes thumps tinged tinges toners toothy topers tortes totems towing tramps trashy trends trendy trumps tweeds tweedy twined twines united unites uplink vowing wanted wheels whelms whimsy whited whiten whiter whites whitey wirers wowing yawing yearns yeasts yeasty
86 Seven-Letter English Words
abiders abusing amusers amusing ashamed atoners avowing bathers belated blamers blowing borated borates bowings braided cantons cantors chiders closers closest closets clothes craters crowing draping elapsed elapses estates flowing formals formats fraters gestate glowing granger granges granted graters growing hawsers honesty lapsers loathed loather loathes matters musings oblasts oranges parsecs pastels patents pirated pirates platens plowing prelate rangers relapse related relater relates restate scanted scorers scrawls sharers sheathe sheaths singers sliders slowing smatter sowings sparest sparser spinets splashy stoners stowing tensest testate thawing whitens whitest whiteys
12 Eight-Letter English Words
gestated grangers plowings prelates prestate relapsed relapses relaters restated sheathed sheathes smatters
1 Nine-Letter English Word
prestated