Rhyme Thyme

by Jennifer Kidder and Seth Bisen-Hersh

Answer:
STRIFE

After solving the clues, we realize that the groups point to alphabetized lists of words which not only rhyme, but have their endings spelled the same. The flavortext and enumeration indicate that there is a word missing from each group.

WordsMissing
CHUTE, CUTE, (5), JUTE, LUTE, MUTEFLUTE
BAGGER, (6), JAGGER, NAGGER, STAGGER, SWAGGERDAGGER
AGREEING, (5), FLEEING, FREEING, KNEEING, SEEINGBEING
(9), ASTOUNDING, COMPOUNDING, CONFOUNDING, RESOUNDING, SURROUNDINGABOUNDING
BLOUSE, GROUSE, HOUSE, LOUSE, MOUSE, (6)SPOUSE

Each of those words is synonymous with a member of a final group of words, which also has a single missing word.

  • FLUTE = FIFE
  • DAGGER = KNIFE
  • BEING = LIFE
  • ABOUNDING = RIFE
  • SPOUSE = WIFE

The missing word is the puzzle’s answer, STRIFE.