The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

DEFILPU

Friday, March 6, 2026

Words
48
Points
206
Genius
144
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 48 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • delude

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • deluded

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • dude

    noun — (used in the vocative) A term of address for someone, typically a man, particularly when cautioning him or offering him advice.

    interjection — A term of address, usually for a man, conveying awe, excitement, surprise, etc.

    noun — A man, generally a younger man.

    noun — An inexperienced cowboy.

    noun — A tourist.

    noun — A man who is very concerned about his dress and appearance; a dandy, a fop.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • duel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • dueled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • duff

    noun — Dough.

    noun — Decaying vegetable matter on the forest floor.

    adjective — Worthless; not working properly, defective.

    noun — The buttocks.

    verb — To disguise something to make it look new.

    noun — A large frame drum, resembling a tambourine, used to accompany popular and classical music in the Middle East.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • duffel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • duffle

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • dull

    verb — To render dull; to remove or blunt an edge or something that was sharp.

    adjective — Lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp.

    verb — To soften, moderate or blunt; to make dull, stupid, or sluggish; to stupefy.

    verb — To lose a sharp edge; to become dull.

    verb — To render dim or obscure; to sully; to tarnish.

    adjective — Boring; not exciting or interesting.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • dulled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • dupe

    verb — To swindle, deceive, or trick.

    noun — A person who has been deceived.

    noun — A duplicate.

    verb — To duplicate.

    noun — A duplicate of a photographic image.

    noun — (restaurant industry) A duplicate of an order receipt printed for kitchen staff.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • duped

    verb — To swindle, deceive, or trick.

    verb — To duplicate.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • duple

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • elude

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • eluded

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • feud

    noun — A state of long-standing mutual hostility.

    verb — To carry on a feud.

    noun — An estate granted to a vassal by a feudal lord in exchange for service.

    noun — A staged rivalry between wrestlers.

    noun — A combination of kindred to avenge injuries or affronts, done or offered to any of their blood, on the offender and all his race.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • feuded

    verb — To carry on a feud.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • flue

    noun — A pipe or duct that carries gaseous combustion products away from the point of combustion (such as a furnace).

    noun — An enclosed passageway in which to direct air or other gaseous current along.

    noun — In an organ flue pipe, the opening between the lower lip and the languet.

    noun — A woolly or downy substance; down, nap; a piece of this.

    adjective — Shallow; flat

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • fluff

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • fluffed

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • fluid

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • fuddle

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • fuddled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • fuel

    noun — Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.

    verb — To provide with fuel.

    noun — Something that stimulates, encourages or maintains an action.

    verb — To exacerbate, to cause to grow or become greater.

    noun — Substance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • fueled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • fulfill

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • fulfilled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • full

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • lieu

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • luff

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • lull

    noun — A period of rest or soothing.

    verb — To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm

    noun — A period of reduced activity; a respite

    noun — A period without waves or wind.

    noun — An extended pause between sets of waves.

    verb — To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • lulled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • lulu

    noun — A remarkable person, object or idea.

    noun — A very attractive or alluring person.

    noun — A very bad mistake or error.

    noun — A fixed allowance paid to a legislator in lieu of reimbursement for actual expenses.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • pileup

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • puddle

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • puddled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • puff

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • puffed

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • pule

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • puled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • puli

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pull

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • pulled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pulp

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • pulped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pupil

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • upfield

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • upped

    verb — To increase or raise.

    verb — (usually in combination with another verb) To act suddenly.

    verb — To promote.

    verb — To upload.

    verb — To ascend; to climb up.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

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

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • de×2
  • du×11
  • el×2
  • fe×2
  • fl×4
  • fu×7
  • li×1
  • lu×4
  • pi×1
  • pu×12
  • up×2

Words by first letter and length

45679Σ
d 5251· 13
e ·11·· 2
f 42331 13
l 4·1·· 5
p 5251· 13
u ·1·1· 2
Σ 1881561 48

The numbers

Genius today takes 144 points of 206 available. The average answer runs 5.3 letters.

Total points vs. all 438 recorded puzzles
49th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
55th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 19815 recorded answers

418 today34.4% all-time58 today22.9% all-time615 today20.1% all-time76 today12.0% all-time86.2% all-time91 today2.6% all-time101.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
d Saturday, February 28, 2026 Monday, January 26, 2026
e Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Friday, February 6, 2026
f Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Sunday, January 4, 2026
i Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Saturday, February 28, 2026
l Thursday, March 5, 2026 Sunday, February 22, 2026
p Friday, February 27, 2026 Friday, February 27, 2026
u ● Thursday, March 5, 2026 Friday, February 20, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 45
  2. naan 35
  3. nana 35
  4. toot 32
  5. onion 31
  6. loll 30
  7. mama 28
  8. mamma 28
  9. acacia 26
  10. acai 26
  11. nene 26
  12. mini 25
  13. minim 25
  14. cocoon 24
  15. imam 24
  16. maim 24
  17. onto 24
  18. toon 24
  19. loon 24
  20. olio 24
  21. lilt 23
  22. till 23
  23. tilt 23
  24. aria 23
  25. mitt 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.