The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ADEFLNK

Friday, April 3, 2026

Words
34
Points
143
Genius
100
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 34 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • ankle

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • dank

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • deke

    noun — A feint, fake, or other move made by the player with the puck to deceive a goaltender or defenceman.

    verb — To avoid, go around, or dodge an object, person, or conversation topic; often by using trickery.

    noun — As in hockey, a fake or other move to confuse other players on a team.

    noun — A quick detour.

    verb — To execute a deke in ice hockey or other sports.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • deked

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • eked

    verb — Chiefly in the form eke out: to add to, to augment; to increase; to lengthen.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • fake

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • faked

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • flak

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • flake

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • flaked

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • flank

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • flanked

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • kale

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • keel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • keeled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • keen

    adjective — Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.

    adjective — Having a fine edge or point; sharp.

    adjective — Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.

    adjective — Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.

    adjective — Fierce, intense, vehement.

    adjective — Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • keened

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • kennel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • kenneled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knead

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • kneaded

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knee

    noun — In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank.

    noun — The part of a garment that covers the knee.

    noun — An act of kneeling, especially to show respect or courtesy.

    verb — To poke or strike with the knee.

    verb — To move on the knees; to use the knees to move.

    noun — A blow made with the knee; a kneeing.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • kneed

    verb — To kneel to.

    adjective — Having a knee or knees, or, in combination, the stated type of knee or knees.

    verb — To poke or strike with the knee.

    verb — To move on the knees; to use the knees to move.

    adjective — Having angular joints like the knee.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • kneel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • kneeled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knell

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • knelled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • lake

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • lank

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • leak

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • leaked

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • leek

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • naked

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • nankeen

    noun — A type of cotton cloth originally from Nanking in China.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

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

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • an×1
  • da×1
  • de×2
  • ek×1
  • fa×2
  • fl×5
  • ka×1
  • ke×6
  • kn×8
  • la×2
  • le×3
  • na×2

Words by first letter and length

45678Σ
a ·1··· 1
d 21··· 3
e 1···· 1
f 2311· 7
k 44331 15
l 4·1·· 5
n ·1·1· 2
Σ 1310551 34

The numbers

Genius today takes 100 points of 143 available. The average answer runs 5.1 letters.

Total points vs. all 425 recorded puzzles
21st percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
24th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 19174 recorded answers

413 today34.4% all-time510 today23.0% all-time65 today20.0% all-time75 today12.1% all-time81 today6.3% all-time92.6% 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
a Thursday, April 2, 2026 Friday, March 27, 2026
d Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Monday, January 26, 2026
e Monday, March 30, 2026 Saturday, March 21, 2026
f Friday, March 27, 2026 Tuesday, March 17, 2026
k ● Saturday, March 28, 2026 Friday, January 23, 2026
l Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Tuesday, March 31, 2026
n Thursday, April 2, 2026 Saturday, March 28, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 45
  2. naan 34
  3. nana 34
  4. onion 31
  5. toot 31
  6. loll 29
  7. mama 27
  8. mamma 27
  9. acacia 25
  10. acai 25
  11. nene 25
  12. cocoon 24
  13. mini 24
  14. minim 24
  15. loon 24
  16. olio 24
  17. aria 23
  18. imam 23
  19. maim 23
  20. mitt 23
  21. onto 23
  22. toon 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.