The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ACGINUR

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Words
71
Points
388
Genius
271
Pangrams
2

Official answers

Show the 71 answersHide answers

Pangrams highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • accruing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • agar

    noun — A gelatinous material obtained from red algae, especially Gracilaria species, used as a bacterial culture medium, in electrophoresis and as a food additive.

    noun — A culture medium based on this material.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • agrarian

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    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • airing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • arancini

    noun — A baked rice ball, filled with cheese or other sauce, originally from Sicily.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • arcana

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • arcing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • arguing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • aria

    noun — A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.

    Appeared in 23 recorded puzzles.

  • arnica

    noun — Any of several plants, of the genus Arnica, considered to have medicinal properties, especially Arnica montana.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • arraign

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • arraigning

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    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • arranging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • augur

    noun — A diviner who foretells events by the behaviour of birds or other animals, or by signs derived from celestial phenomena, or unusual occurrences.

    verb — To foretell events; to exhibit signs of future events.

    noun — An official who interpreted omens before the start of public events.

    verb — To anticipate, to foretell, or to indicate a favorable or an unfavorable issue.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • auguring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • aura

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • cairn

    noun — A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument.

    noun — A pile of stones heaped up as a landmark, to guide travelers on land or at sea, or to arrest attention, as in surveying, or in leaving traces of an exploring party, etc.

    noun — A cairn terrier.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • caring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • cigar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • circa

    preposition — Approximately, about, around (typically in relation to time)

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • cirri

    noun — A tendril.

    noun — A thin tendril-like appendage.

    noun — A principal high-level cloud type characterised by white, delicate filaments or wisps, of white (or mostly white) patches, or of narrow bands, found at an altitude of above 7000 metres.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • crag

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • crania

    noun — The braincase or neurocranium; that part of the skull consisting of the bones enclosing the brain, but not including the bones of the face or jaw.

    noun — The upper portion of the skull, including the neurocranium and facial bones, but not including the jawbone (mandible).

    noun — The skull.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • craning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • cringing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • curing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • garaging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • gracing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • grain

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • graining

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • gran

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • grin

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • grinning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • guar

    noun — An annual legume (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), used as a food for cattle and humans.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • guru

    noun — A Hindu or Sikh spiritual teacher.

    noun — (sometimes humorous) An influential advisor or mentor.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • incur

    verb — To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to

    verb — To enter or pass into

    verb — To fall within a period or scope; to occur; to run into danger

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • incurring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • ingrain

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • ingraining

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • inuring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • inurn

    verb — To place (the remains of a person who has died) in an urn or other container.

    verb — To hold or contain (the remains of a person who has died).

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • inurning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • narc

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • nigiri

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • racing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • raga

    noun — Any of various melodic forms used in Indian classical music, or a piece of music composed in such a form.

    noun — Passion, love, lust.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • ragging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • raging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • ragu

    noun — An Italian pasta sauce containing ground meat cooked with sautéed vegetables in tomato sauce or some other kind of liquid.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • rain

    noun — Condensed water falling from a cloud.

    verb — To have rain fall from the sky.

    noun — Any matter moving or falling, usually through air, and especially if liquid or otherwise figuratively identifiable with raindrops.

    verb — To fall as or like rain.

    verb — To issue (something) in large quantities.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • raining

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • rang

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • ranging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • rani

    noun — A Hindu princess or female ruler in India.

    noun — The wife of a rajah.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • raring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • ricin

    noun — An extremely toxic protein extracted from the castor bean.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • ricing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • rigging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ringing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ruin

    noun — (sometimes in the plural) The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.

    verb — To cause the fiscal ruin of.

    noun — The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed.

    noun — Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction.

    noun — A fall or tumble.

    noun — A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ruing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • ruining

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • rung

    noun — A crosspiece forming a step of a ladder; a round.

    verb — Of a bell, etc., to produce a resonant sound.

    adjective — Of a pig: having a ring through the nose.

    noun — A crosspiece between legs of a chair.

    noun — A position in a hierarchy.

    noun — A floor timber in a ship.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • runic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • running

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • uncaring

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unrig

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • unrigging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • urging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • uric

    adjective — Pertaining to, contained in, or obtained from urine.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ac×1
  • ag×2
  • ai×1
  • ar×9
  • au×3
  • ca×2
  • ci×3
  • cr×4
  • cu×1
  • ga×1
  • gr×6
  • gu×2
  • in×7
  • na×1
  • ni×1
  • ra×11
  • ri×5
  • ru×6
  • un×3
  • ur×2

Words by first letter and length

45678910Σ
a 3142411 16
c 14311·· 10
g 41·13·· 9
i ·2·2111 7
n 1·1···· 2
r 8347··· 22
u 111·11· 5
Σ 181213131032 71

The numbers

Genius today takes 271 points of 388 available. The average answer runs 6.0 letters.

Total points vs. all 420 recorded puzzles
98th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
98th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 18971 recorded answers

418 today34.4% all-time512 today23.0% all-time613 today20.0% all-time713 today12.0% all-time810 today6.3% all-time93 today2.6% all-time102 today1.3% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Thursday, August 14, 2025 Saturday, July 19, 2025
c Wednesday, August 13, 2025 Wednesday, July 30, 2025
g Sunday, August 10, 2025 Sunday, August 10, 2025
i Thursday, August 14, 2025 Thursday, August 14, 2025
n Friday, August 15, 2025 Friday, August 15, 2025
r ● Thursday, August 14, 2025 Monday, July 21, 2025
u Friday, August 15, 2025 Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 44
  2. naan 33
  3. nana 33
  4. onion 31
  5. toot 30
  6. loll 29
  7. mama 27
  8. mamma 27
  9. acacia 25
  10. acai 25
  11. nene 25
  12. cocoon 24
  13. mini 24
  14. minim 24
  15. loon 24
  16. olio 24
  17. aria 23
  18. imam 23
  19. maim 23
  20. mitt 23
  21. cancan 23
  22. canna 23
  23. neon 23
  24. none 23
  25. onto 22

Valid words the Bee rejected

Dictionary words the Bee never takes

Legitimate words (per the ENABLE list) that fit the letters but aren't official answers — usually judged too obscure.