Ins & Outs: IN-OUT-IN Words
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IN-OUT-IN: Spelling Bee words allowed at least once before being disallowed and then allowed again
Total as of 2026-08-13: 36
Occasionally, a word that has been selected for the Spelling Bee – a word that has appeared once, twice, or dozens of times – is later disallowed, and then still later, revived and brought back into active play. Here’s the list of all such IN-OUT-IN words.
In the lists below, the numeric code indicates the number of times a word was allowed, followed by the number of times disallowed, followed by the number of times the word has been used since being allowed again. Thus, 6 / 2 / x means that a word was used in 6 Spelling Bee puzzles, then disallowed from two puzzles, then used again in a puzzle and in all subsequent puzzles in which it was possible.
Two lists follow, the first showing the IN-OUT-IN words arranged in descending order by the number of times they had been IN before they had been OUT; the second shows the same words in simple alphabetical order.
Occasionally, a word that has been selected for the Spelling Bee – a word that has appeared once, twice, or dozens of times – is later disallowed, and then still later, revived and brought back into active play. Here’s the list of all such IN-OUT-IN words.
In the lists below, the numeric code indicates the number of times a word was allowed, followed by the number of times disallowed, followed by the number of times the word has been used since being allowed again. Thus, 6 / 2 / x means that a word was used in 6 Spelling Bee puzzles, then disallowed from two puzzles, then used again in a puzzle and in all subsequent puzzles in which it was possible.
Two lists follow, the first showing the IN-OUT-IN words arranged in descending order by the number of times they had been IN before they had been OUT; the second shows the same words in simple alphabetical order.
RANKED BY NUMBER OF INITIAL ALLOWANCES
WORD IN-OUT-INAFFIANT 10 / 1 / x
COPE 10 / 1 / x
CLONAL 6 / 12 / x
HIATAL 6 / 8 / x
LUNETTE 6 / 1 / xBETEL 4 / 6 / xLUNGFUL 4 / 2 / xGOONY 3 / 4 / x
TITLING 3 / 2 / xUNGLUE 3 / 1 / xWILDLAND 2 / 3 / x
ANOXIA 2 / 3 / x
CARTWAY 2 / 2 / xCUPPA 2 / 2 / xNODAL 2 / 2 / xPELLICLE 2 / 2 / xATTAR 2 / 1 / xDOORYARD 2 / 1 / xDOPY 2 / 1 / x
HEADPIN 2 / 1 / xNATTILY 2 / 1 / x
WORD IN-OUT-ININDIUM 1 / 4 / xBARMAN 1 / 3 / xCORKY 1 / 3 / x
FLATFEET 1 / 3 / xCANONIC 1 / 2 / xRIBBIT 1 / 2 / xTORRIDITY 1 / 2 / xBATHMAT 1 / 1 / x
BIDDY 1 / 1 / xDOWDILY 1 / 1 / xFOOTMAN 1 / 1 / x
GEEKING 1 / 1 / xHUMPH 1 / 1 / xOGIVE 1 / 1 / xPINEY 1 / 1 / x
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY BEE WORD
WORD IN-OUT-INAFFIANT 10 / 1 / x
ANOXIA 2 / 3 / x
ATTAR 2 / 1 / xBARMAN 1 / 3 / xBATHMAT 1 / 1 / xBETEL 4 / 6 / x
BIDDY 1 / 1 / xCANONIC 1 / 2 / x
CARTWAY 2 / 2 / x
CLONAL 6 / 12 / x
COPE 10 / 1 / x
CORKY 1 / 3 / xCUPPA 2 / 2 / xDOORYARD 2 / 1 / xDOPY 2 / 1 / xDOWDILY 1 / 1 / xFLATFEET 1 / 3 / x
FOOTMAN 1 / 1 / x
WORD IN-OUT-INGEEKING 1 / 1 / xGOONY 3 / 4 / x
HEADPIN 2 / 1 / x
HIATAL 6 / 8 / xHUMPH 1 / 1 / xINDIUM 1 / 4 / xLUNETTE 6 / 1 / xLUNGFUL 4 / 2 / xNATTILY 2 / 1 / xNODAL 2 / 2 / xOGIVE 1 / 1 / xPINEY 1 / 1 / xPELLICLE 2 / 2 / xRIBBIT 1 / 2 / x
TITLING 3 / 2 / xTORRIDITY 1 / 2 / xUNGLUE 3 / 1 / xWILDLAND 2 / 3 / x