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This puzzle is based off the What is a Word™ series started by JLee

If a word follows a certain rule it is called a RanchWord™. Here are some examples:

RanchWords™ Not RanchWords™
AMUSED PLEASED
ARREST DETAIN
SHORTEST TALLEST
DEFERRED DENIED
ATOMS MOLECULES
THERMOMETERS BAROMETERS
FOOT ANKLE
FARM RANCH
SOUTHEAST NORTHWEST

CSV:

RanchWords™,Not RanchWords™
AMUSED,PLEASED
ARREST,DETAIN
SHORTEST,TALLEST
DEFERRED,DENIED
ATOMS,MOLECULES
THERMOMETERS,BAROMETERS
FOOT,ANKLE
FARM,RANCH
SOUTHEAST,NORTHWEST

What is the rule to tell whether a word is a RanchWord™ or not? Why are they called RanchWords™, especially since "Ranch" ISN'T one?

(Note that each word can be tested for whether it is a RanchWord™ on its own, without looking at any of the other words in the list of examples.)

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  • $\begingroup$ I'm out of ideas. Maybe a small hint? $\endgroup$
    – JLee
    May 3, 2022 at 12:04

2 Answers 2

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Here is a (probably wrong) guess:

BLINK-182 is an American rock band whose second album was called "Dude RANCH".

So, a RanchWord is any word

that excludes any of the letters B L I N K. They are 'fenced out'.
All RanchWords, for example 'Amused', do not contain B, L, I, N, or K.
All Non-RanchWords, for example 'Pleased', contain at least one B, L, I, N, or K.
Observations:
Normally ranches fence things in, so this is probably wrong.
The full set of fenced out letters is Plnicbkw, so any rule related to 'ranch' that involves these letters stands a chance of being right.

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Partial answer:

I have noticed that:

All of the RanchWords have letters only in this set: ADEFHMORSTU

Still trying to figure out the connection between those letters, though.

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  • $\begingroup$ Any hints yet? I am still puzzled. $\endgroup$
    – 1357924680a
    Feb 6 at 18:20
  • $\begingroup$ Well, it has been about 12 days now. Any clues whatsoever? $\endgroup$
    – 1357924680a
    Feb 18 at 23:10

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