The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ABGINZL

Monday, October 6, 2025

Words
50
Points
271
Genius
189
Pangrams
2

Official answers

Show the 50 answersHide answers

Pangrams highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • ailing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • alga

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • algal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • alibi

    noun — The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed

    verb — To provide an excuse for.

    verb — To provide an alibi for.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • align

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • aligning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • anal

    adjective — Of a person, compulsive and stubborn, obsessed with neatness and accuracy, supposedly from not having progressed beyond the anal stage.

    adjective — Of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.

    adjective — Of the stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is alleged to be concentrated on the anal region.

    noun — Anal sex.

    noun — Any of the anal scales of a reptile.

    adjective — (of a vein) Proximate to the thorax.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • angling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • annal

    noun — The record of a single event or item.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • babbling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • bail

    noun — Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.

    noun — Release from imprisonment on payment of such money.

    verb — To exit quickly.

    verb — To fail to meet a commitment.

    noun — A hoop, ring or handle (especially of a kettle or bucket).

    verb — To secure the release of an arrested person by providing bail.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • bailing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • baling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • ball

    noun — A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.

    noun — A round or ellipsoidal object.

    verb — To play basketball.

    noun — A very enjoyable time.

    verb — To form or wind into a ball.

    noun — A formal dance.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • balling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • banal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • bilabial

    adjective — Articulated with both lips.

    noun — A speech sound articulated with both lips.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • bill

    noun — A piece of paper money; a banknote.

    noun — A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; an invoice.

    verb — To charge; to send a bill to.

    noun — A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.

    noun — The beak of a bird, especially when small or flattish; sometimes also used with reference to a platypus, turtle, or other animal.

    noun — Of a cap or hat: the brim or peak, serving as a shade to keep sun off the face and out of the eyes.

    Appeared in 22 recorded puzzles.

  • billing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • blab

    verb — To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.

    noun — Gossip; prattle.

    noun — One who blabs; a babbler; a telltale; a gossip or gossiper.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • blabbing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • blazing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • blin

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • bling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • blini

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • gabbling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gala

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • galangal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gall

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • galling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • ganglia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gangling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • giggling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • gill

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • gilling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • glazing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • glia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • glib

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • labia

    noun — The folds of tissue at the opening of the vulva, at either side of the vagina.

    noun — A liplike structure; especially one of the two pairs of folds of skin either side of the vulva.

    noun — The lip of a labiate corolla.

    noun — The lip against which pressured air is driven to produce sound in a recorder and in a pipe organ with flue pipes.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • labial

    adjective — Of or pertaining to the lips or labia.

    adjective — Articulated by the lips, as the consonants b, m and w.

    noun — A consonant articulated by the lips.

    adjective — Of an incisor or canine, on the side facing the lips. See mesial.

    noun — Any of the scales bordering the mouth opening of a reptile.

    noun — An organ pipe having a lip that influences its sound.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • labializing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • lagging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • lain

    verb — To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.

    verb — To be placed or situated.

    verb — To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.

    verb — Used with with: to have sexual relations with.

    verb — Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.

    verb — Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • lanai

    noun — (Florida) A Hawaiian-style roofed patio.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • lazing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • lining

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • nail

    noun — The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.

    noun — A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is generally driven through two or more layers of material by means of impacts from a hammer or other device. It is then held in place by friction.

    verb — To fix (an object) to another object using a nail.

    verb — To drive a nail.

    verb — To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.

    verb — To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • nailing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • nibbling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • niggling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

blazing is a perfect pangram — all seven letters, each used exactly once.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ai×1
  • al×5
  • an×3
  • ba×7
  • bi×3
  • bl×6
  • ga×7
  • gi×3
  • gl×3
  • la×7
  • li×1
  • na×2
  • ni×2

Words by first letter and length

4567811Σ
a 24111· 9
b 53143· 16
g 5··44· 13
l 1231·1 8
n 1··12· 4
Σ 149511101 50

The numbers

Genius today takes 189 points of 271 available. The average answer runs 6.0 letters.

Total points vs. all 378 recorded puzzles
76th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
58th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17142 recorded answers

414 today34.5% all-time59 today22.8% all-time65 today20.0% all-time711 today12.1% all-time810 today6.3% all-time92.5% all-time101.2% all-time111 today0.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Saturday, October 4, 2025 Friday, September 26, 2025
b Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Saturday, September 13, 2025
g Sunday, October 5, 2025 Wednesday, September 3, 2025
i Saturday, October 4, 2025 Tuesday, September 30, 2025
l ● Thursday, October 2, 2025 Saturday, September 27, 2025
n Sunday, October 5, 2025 Sunday, October 5, 2025
z Thursday, October 2, 2025 first recorded time

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 41
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 28
  5. toot 27
  6. loll 27
  7. mama 24
  8. mamma 24
  9. cocoon 23
  10. nene 23
  11. acacia 22
  12. acai 22
  13. bill 22
  14. loon 22
  15. aria 21
  16. onto 21
  17. toon 21
  18. cancan 21
  19. canna 21
  20. neon 21
  21. none 21
  22. olio 21
  23. anon 20
  24. lull 19
  25. lulu 19

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.