The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

AIJNOTR

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Words
67
Points
325
Genius
227
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 67 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • ajar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • annotator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • aorta

    noun — The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.

    noun — The liveliest part of something.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • aria

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

    Appeared in 23 recorded puzzles.

  • arrant

    adjective — Utter; complete (with a negative sense).

    adjective — Straying from the proper course or standard, or outside established limits.

    adjective — Wandering; roving around.

    adjective — Prone to making errors; misbehaved.

    adjective — Utter, complete (negative); arrant.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • atria

    noun — A central room or space in ancient Roman homes, open to the sky in the middle; a similar space in other buildings.

    noun — A square hall lit by daylight from above, into which rooms open at one or more levels.

    noun — A cavity, entrance, or passage.

    noun — Any enclosed sexine and nexine layers, widening toward the interior of the grain.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • attar

    noun — An essential oil extracted from flowers.

    noun — A perfume made from this oil.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • attrition

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • initiator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • intro

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • iron

    noun — A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel.

    verb — To pass an iron over (clothing or some other item made of cloth) in order to remove creases.

    adjective — Made of the metal iron.

    noun — A metallic chemical element having atomic number 26 and symbol Fe.

    noun — Any material, not a steel, predominantly made of elemental iron.

    noun — A tool or appliance made of metal, which is heated and then used to transfer heat to something else; most often a thick piece of metal fitted with a handle and having a flat, roughly triangular bottom, which is heated and used to press wrinkles from clothing, and now usually containing an electrical heating apparatus.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • irritant

    noun — Any medication designed to cause irritation

    adjective — Causing irritation or inflammation.

    noun — A source of irritation.

    adjective — Rendering null and void; conditionally invalidating.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • irritation

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • janitor

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • narration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • narrator

    noun — One who narrates or tells stories.

    noun — The person or the "voice" whose viewpoint is used in telling a story.

    noun — The person providing the voice-over in a documentary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • nitro

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • noir

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • nonart

    noun — That which is not art

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • nori

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • notator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • oration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • orator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • oratorio

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 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.

  • raita

    noun — A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • raja

    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.

  • rant

    noun — A criticism done by ranting.

    verb — To speak or shout at length in uncontrollable anger.

    noun — A wild, emotional, and sometimes incoherent articulation.

    noun — A type of dance step usually performed in clogs, and particularly (but not exclusively) associated with the English North West Morris tradition. The rant step consists of alternately bringing one foot across and in front of the other and striking the ground, with the other foot making a little hop.

    verb — To criticize by ranting.

    verb — To speak extravagantly, as in merriment.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ratatat

    noun — A swiftly repeated knocking sound.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • ratio

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • ration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rattan

    noun — Any of several species of climbing palm of the genus Calamus.

    verb — To beat with a rattan cane.

    noun — The plant used as a material for making furniture, baskets etc.

    noun — (by extension) A cane made from this material.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • rioja

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • riot

    noun — Wanton or unrestrained behavior; uproar; tumult.

    verb — To create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.

    noun — The tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by an unlawful assembly of three or more persons in the execution of some private object.

    noun — A wide and unconstrained variety.

    noun — Excessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.

    verb — To act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • roan

    noun — An animal such as a horse that has a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in.

    adjective — Especially of a horse, having a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in

    noun — The color of such an animal.

    noun — A kind of leather used for slippers, bookbinding, etc., made from sheepskin, tanned with sumac and colored to imitate ungrained morocco.

    noun — Sorbus aucuparia, the European rowan.

    noun — Any of various small deciduous trees or shrubs of genus Sorbus, belonging to the rose family, with pinnate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and usually with orange-red berries.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • roar

    noun — A long, loud, deep shout, as of rage or laughter, made with the mouth wide open.

    verb — To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.

    verb — To laugh in a particularly loud manner.

    noun — A loud resounding noise.

    verb — Generally, of inanimate objects etc., to make a loud resounding noise.

    verb — Of animals (especially the lion), to make a loud deep noise.

    Appeared in 14 recorded puzzles.

  • root

    noun — The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.

    verb — To grow roots; to enter the earth, as roots; to take root and begin to grow.

    noun — An act of sexual intercourse.

    verb — To turn up or dig with the snout.

    verb — (with "for" or "on") To cheer (on); to show support (for) and hope for the success of. (See root for.)

    noun — A root vegetable.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • rotation

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rotator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • roti

    noun — A kind of unleavened flatbread commonly consumed in South Asia and the Caribbean.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • rotini

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rotor

    noun — A rotating part of a mechanical device, for example in an electric motor, generator, alternator or pump.

    noun — The wing of a helicopter or similar aircraft.

    noun — A quantity having magnitude, direction and position.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • tantara

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • tantra

    noun — A Hindu or Buddhist religious or esoteric text.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • tarnation

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • taro

    noun — Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.

    noun — Any of several other species with similar corms and growth habit in Colocasia, Alocasia etc.

    noun — Food from a taro plant.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tarot

    noun — (singular or plural) A card game played in various different variations.

    noun — Any of the set of 78 playing cards (divided into five suits, including one of permanent trumps), often used for mystical divination.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tart

    adjective — Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.

    noun — A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie.

    noun — A prostitute.

    verb — To practice prostitution

    adjective — (of wine) high or too high in acidity.

    adjective — Sharp; keen; severe.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • tartan

    noun — A kind of woven woollen cloth with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles, associated with Scottish Highlanders, different clans having their own distinctive patterns.

    verb — To clothe in tartan.

    adjective — Having a pattern like a tartan.

    noun — A type of one-masted vessel used in the Mediterranean.

    noun — The pattern associated with such material.

    noun — An individual or a group wearing tartan; a Highlander or Scotsman in general.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • tartar

    noun — A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate - a source of cream of tartar.

    noun — A fearsome or angrily violent person.

    noun — A hard yellow deposit on the teeth.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • tiara

    noun — The papal crown.

    noun — An ornamental coronet.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • titration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • tori

    noun — A topological space which is a product of two circles.

    noun — One who executes a technique against the training partner, or uke.

    noun — The standard representation of such a space in 3-dimensional Euclidean space: a shape consisting of a ring with a circular cross-section: the shape of an inner tube or hollow doughnut.

    noun — (in combination, n-torus, 4-torus, etc.) The product of the specified number of circles.

    noun — A molding which projects at the base of a column and above the plinth.

    noun — The end of the peduncle or flower stalk to which the floral parts (or in the Asteraceae, the florets of a flower head) are attached; receptacle, thalamus.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • torii

    noun — A traditional Japanese gate at Shinto shrines, symbolically marking the transition from the profane to the sacred.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • torn

    verb — To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.

    verb — To injure as if by pulling apart.

    verb — To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

    verb — To make (an opening) with force or energy.

    verb — (often with off or out) To remove by tearing.

    verb — (of structures, with down) To demolish

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • toro

    noun — A traditional Japanese lantern.

    noun — Rapanea salicina, a species of shrub or small tree native to New Zealand.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • tort

    noun — An injury or wrong.

    adjective — Tart; sharp.

    adjective — Stretched tight; taut.

    noun — A tortoise.

    noun — A tortoiseshell (animal with coloured markings on fur).

    noun — A wrongful act, whether intentional or negligent, which causes an injury and can be remedied in civil court, usually through the awarding of damages.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • torta

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tortoni

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • train

    noun — Elongated portion.

    verb — To practice an ability.

    noun — Treachery; deceit.

    noun — Connected sequence of people or things.

    verb — To teach and form (someone) by practice; to educate (someone).

    verb — To improve one's fitness.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • trait

    noun — An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.

    noun — An uninstantiable collection of methods that provides functionality to a class by using the class’s own interface.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • traitor

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • trattoria

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • trio

    noun — A group of three people or things.

    noun — A group of three musicians.

    noun — A piece of music written for three musicians.

    noun — A passage in the middle of a minuet, frequently in a different key.

    noun — Any cocktail made with a spirit, a liqueur, and a creamy ingredient.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • triton

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • trot

    noun — Any of several animals related to Equus ferus caballus.

    noun — Heroin (drug).

    noun — An ugly old woman, a hag.

    verb — To move along briskly; specifically, to move at a pace between a walk and a run.

    noun — A genre of Korean pop music employing repetitive rhythm and vocal inflections.

    noun — A supporter of Trotskyism.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

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

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • aj×1
  • an×1
  • ao×1
  • ar×2
  • at×3
  • in×2
  • ir×3
  • ja×1
  • na×2
  • ni×1
  • no×4
  • or×3
  • ra×9
  • ri×2
  • ro×8
  • ta×8
  • ti×2
  • to×7
  • tr×7

Words by first letter and length

45678910Σ
a 231··2· 8
i 11··111 5
j ···1··· 1
n 211111· 7
o ··111·· 3
r 94321·· 19
t 8643·3· 24
Σ 2215108471 67

The numbers

Genius today takes 227 points of 325 available. The average answer runs 5.7 letters.

Total points vs. all 437 recorded puzzles
91st percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
94th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 19762 recorded answers

422 today34.4% all-time515 today22.9% all-time610 today20.1% all-time78 today12.0% all-time84 today6.2% all-time97 today2.6% all-time101 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 Sunday, March 15, 2026 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
i Monday, March 16, 2026 Friday, March 13, 2026
j Thursday, March 5, 2026 first recorded time
n Monday, March 16, 2026 Monday, March 16, 2026
o Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Thursday, March 5, 2026
r ● Sunday, March 15, 2026 Saturday, March 14, 2026
t Friday, March 13, 2026 Monday, February 9, 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.