The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ALOPRTY

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Words
59
Points
292
Genius
204
Pangram
1

Official answers

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Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • allay

    noun — Alleviation; abatement; check.

    verb — To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.

    noun — An alloy.

    verb — To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate.

    verb — To subside, abate, become peaceful.

    verb — To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • alloy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • ally

    noun — A person, group, or state (etc) which is associated with another for a common cause; one united to another by treaty or common purpose; a confederate.

    verb — To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy.

    noun — A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.

    noun — A glass marble or taw.

    noun — A person, group, concept (etc) which is associated with another as a helper; a supporter; an auxiliary.

    noun — Anything akin to something else by structure, etc.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • apply

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • aptly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • array

    noun — Clothing and ornamentation.

    verb — To clothe and ornament; to adorn or attire.

    noun — A collection laid out to be viewed in full.

    noun — An orderly series, arrangement or sequence.

    noun — Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle.

    noun — A large collection.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • arroyo

    noun — A dry creek or streambed, a gulch which temporarily or seasonally fills and flows (after sufficient rain).

    noun — Any watercourse; any rivulet (whether it flows year-round or only seasonally).

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • arty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • loopy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • lorry

    noun — A motor vehicle for transporting goods, and in some cases people; a truck.

    verb — To transport by, or as if by, lorry.

    noun — A barrow or truck for shifting baggage, as at railway stations.

    noun — A small cart or wagon used on the tramways in mines to carry coal or rubbish.

    noun — A large, low, horse-drawn, four-wheeled wagon without sides; also, a similar wagon modified for use on railways.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • loyal

    adjective — Having or demonstrating undivided and constant support for someone or something.

    adjective — Firm in allegiance to a person or institution.

    adjective — Faithful to a person or cause.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • loyally

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • loyalty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • oaty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • orally

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • oratory

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • paltry

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • papally

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • papaya

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • pappy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • parlay

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • parry

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • partly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • party

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • patly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • patty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • payola

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • payroll

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • play

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • ploy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • polyp

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • poorly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • poppy

    noun — Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially the common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant.

    adjective — Of a bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower (Papaver rhoeas).

    adjective — Having a popping or bursting sound.

    adjective — Popular.

    noun — One's father or grandfather, or a male authority figure having similar standing.

    noun — A bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • portly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • portray

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • portrayal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • potty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • pray

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • pyro

    noun — A pyromaniac

    adjective — Pyromaniac, pyromaniacal

    noun — Pyrocellulose

    noun — Pyrotechnician

    noun — Pyrotechnics

    noun — Pyrogallic acid

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • rally

    noun — A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.

    verb — To collect, and reduce to order, as troops dispersed or thrown into confusion; to gather again; to reunite.

    noun — Good-humoured raillery.

    verb — To tease; to chaff good-humouredly.

    noun — A protest or demonstration for or against something, but often with speeches and often without marching, especially in North America.

    noun — A sequence of strokes between serving and scoring a point.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • raptly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rattly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • ratty

    adjective — Similar to a rat; ratlike.

    adjective — Infested with rats.

    adjective — In poor condition or repair

    adjective — Irritable, annoyed, bad-tempered.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ropy

    adjective — Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.

    adjective — Capable of forming rope-like or thread-like structures.

    adjective — Of poor quality; in poor health.

    adjective — (of milk or another liquid) Slimy, as after the action of Enterobacter aerogenes in syrup.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • rotary

    noun — A traffic circle.

    adjective — Capable of rotation.

    noun — (chiefly with initial capital) Any of the clubs making up the international Rotary International movement for community service.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • rotatory

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • royal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • royally

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • royalty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • tally

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tarry

    noun — A sojourn.

    verb — To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.

    adjective — Resembling tar.

    verb — To linger in expectation of something or until something is done or happens.

    verb — To abide, stay or wait somewhere, especially if longer than planned.

    verb — To stay somewhere temporarily.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • tartly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • tatty

    noun — Potato

    adjective — Tattered; dilapidated, distressed, worn-out, torn

    noun — A woven mat or screen hung at a door or window and kept wet to moisten and cool the air as it enters.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • totally

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • tray

    noun — A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.

    verb — To place (items) on a tray

    noun — Trouble; annoyance; anger

    verb — To grieve; to annoy

    verb — To betray

    noun — A playing card or die with the rank of three.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • troy

    adjective — Of, or relating to, troy weight.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • typo

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • tyro

    noun — A beginner; a novice.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • yappy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • al×3
  • ap×2
  • ar×3
  • lo×5
  • oa×1
  • or×2
  • pa×12
  • pl×2
  • po×7
  • pr×1
  • py×1
  • ra×4
  • ro×6
  • ta×4
  • to×1
  • tr×2
  • ty×2
  • ya×1

Words by first letter and length

456789Σ
a 251··· 8
l ·3·2·· 5
o 1·11·· 3
p 4873·1 23
r 13321· 10
t 4311·· 9
y ·1···· 1
Σ 122313911 59

The numbers

Genius today takes 204 points of 292 available. The average answer runs 5.4 letters.

Total points vs. all 428 recorded puzzles
83rd percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
82nd percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 19319 recorded answers

412 today34.4% all-time523 today22.9% all-time613 today20.0% all-time79 today12.1% all-time81 today6.3% all-time91 today2.6% all-time101.3% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Friday, January 16, 2026 Thursday, January 8, 2026
l Friday, January 16, 2026 Tuesday, December 9, 2025
o Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
p Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Sunday, January 11, 2026
r Saturday, January 10, 2026 Saturday, January 10, 2026
t Thursday, January 15, 2026 Tuesday, January 6, 2026
y ● Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Thursday, December 11, 2025

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 45
  2. naan 34
  3. nana 34
  4. toot 32
  5. onion 31
  6. loll 30
  7. mama 27
  8. mamma 27
  9. nene 26
  10. acacia 25
  11. acai 25
  12. cocoon 24
  13. onto 24
  14. toon 24
  15. mini 24
  16. minim 24
  17. loon 24
  18. olio 24
  19. aria 23
  20. imam 23
  21. maim 23
  22. mitt 23
  23. cancan 23
  24. canna 23
  25. neon 23

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.