The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

AEILPTV

Friday, December 19, 2025

Words
32
Points
141
Genius
98
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 32 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • alive

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • alleviate

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • appetitive

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • avail

    noun — Effect in achieving a goal or aim; purpose, use (now usually in negative constructions).

    verb — To turn to the advantage of.

    noun — Proceeds; profits from business transactions.

    noun — An advertising slot or package.

    noun — A press avail.

    noun — Non-binding notice of availability for work.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • aviate

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • eave

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • elevate

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • evil

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • lava

    noun — The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides.

    noun — Magma.

    noun — A shade of red, named after the volcanic lava.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • lave

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • leave

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • levee

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • level

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • levitate

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • live

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • palliative

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • pave

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • peeve

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • titivate

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • vale

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • valet

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • valve

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • vape

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • veal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • veep

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • veil

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • velvet

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • vial

    noun — A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small tube-shaped bottle used to store medicine, perfume or other chemical.

    verb — To put or keep in, or as in, a vial.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • vile

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • villa

    noun — (plural "villas") A house, often larger and more expensive than average, in the countryside or on the coast, often used as a retreat.

    noun — (plural "villas") A family house, often semi-detached, in a middle class street.

    noun — (plural "villae") A country house, with farm buildings around a courtyard.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • vital

    adjective — Relating to, or characteristic of life.

    adjective — Necessary to the continuation of life; being the seat of life; being that on which life depends.

    adjective — Invigorating or life-giving.

    adjective — Necessary to continued existence.

    adjective — Relating to the recording of life events.

    adjective — Very important.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • vitiate

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • al×2
  • ap×1
  • av×2
  • ea×1
  • el×1
  • ev×1
  • la×2
  • le×4
  • li×1
  • pa×2
  • pe×1
  • ti×1
  • va×4
  • ve×4
  • vi×5

Words by first letter and length

45678910Σ
a ·21··11 5
e 2··1··· 3
l 33··1·· 7
p 11····1 3
t ····1·· 1
v 7411··· 13
Σ 131022212 32

The numbers

Genius today takes 98 points of 141 available. The average answer runs 5.4 letters.

Total points vs. all 385 recorded puzzles
20th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
20th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17461 recorded answers

413 today34.6% all-time510 today22.8% all-time62 today19.9% all-time72 today12.1% all-time82 today6.3% all-time91 today2.6% all-time102 today1.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Friday, December 12, 2025
e Thursday, December 18, 2025 Friday, December 5, 2025
i Thursday, December 18, 2025 Thursday, December 18, 2025
l Thursday, December 18, 2025 Tuesday, December 9, 2025
p Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Wednesday, December 17, 2025
t Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Tuesday, December 16, 2025
v ● Sunday, December 14, 2025 Thursday, September 18, 2025

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 42
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 29
  5. toot 28
  6. loll 28
  7. mama 25
  8. mamma 25
  9. cocoon 23
  10. acacia 23
  11. acai 23
  12. loon 23
  13. nene 23
  14. bill 22
  15. neon 22
  16. none 22
  17. olio 22
  18. aria 21
  19. onto 21
  20. toon 21
  21. cancan 21
  22. canna 21
  23. lull 20
  24. lulu 20
  25. lilt 20

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.