The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ABGINOD

Friday, April 24, 2026

Words
47
Points
257
Genius
179
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 47 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • abandon

    verb — To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.

    noun — A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences.

    verb — To desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.

    verb — To leave behind; to desert as in a ship or a position, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.

    verb — To subdue; to take control of.

    verb — To cast out; to banish; to expel; to reject.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • abandoning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • abiding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • adagio

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • adding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • adobo

    noun — A Philippine dish in which pork or chicken is slowly cooked in a sauce including soy sauce, vinegar, and crushed garlic.

    noun — A marinade.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • aiding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • badging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • band

    noun — A strip of material used for strengthening or coupling.

    verb — To fasten with a band.

    noun — A group of musicians who perform together as an ensemble, usually for a professional recording artist.

    verb — To group together for a common purpose; to confederate.

    verb — To tie; to confine by any ligature.

    noun — A long strip of material, color, etc, that is different from the surrounding area.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • bandaging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bandana

    noun — A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.

    noun — A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are produced upon cloth previously dyed a uniform red or dark colour, by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the rest of the cloth is under pressure.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • bandanna

    noun — A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.

    noun — A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are produced upon cloth previously dyed a uniform red or dark colour, by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the rest of the cloth is under pressure.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • banding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bidding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • biding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bind

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bindi

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • binding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • boding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • bond

    noun — Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds.

    verb — To connect, secure or tie with a bond; to bind.

    noun — A peasant; churl.

    adjective — Subject to the tenure called bondage.

    noun — A documentary obligation to pay a sum or to perform a contract; a debenture.

    noun — A partial payment made to show a provider that the customer is sincere about buying a product or a service. If the product or service is not purchased the customer then forfeits the bond.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • bonding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • dabbing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • dang

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • digging

    verb — To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way.

    verb — To understand or show interest in.

    noun — The action performed by a person or thing that digs.

    verb — To get by digging; to take from the ground; often with up.

    verb — To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.

    verb — To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • ding

    noun — Very minor damage, a small dent or chip.

    verb — To hit or strike.

    noun — The high-pitched resonant sound of a bell.

    verb — To make high-pitched sound like a bell.

    noun — An ancient Chinese vessel with legs and a lid.

    noun — A rejection.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • dinging

    verb — To hit or strike.

    verb — To make high-pitched sound like a bell.

    verb — To dash; to throw violently.

    verb — To inflict minor damage upon, especially by hitting or striking.

    verb — To fire or reject.

    verb — To deduct, as points, from another, in the manner of a penalty; to penalize.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • dingo

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • dining

    verb — To eat; to eat dinner or supper.

    noun — Eating dinner as a social function.

    verb — To give a dinner to; to furnish with the chief meal; to feed.

    verb — To dine upon; to have to eat.

    noun — Entertaining someone to dinner.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • dino

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • dodging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • dodo

    noun — A large, flightless bird, †Raphus cucullatus, related to the pigeon, that is now extinct (since the 1600s) and was native to Mauritius.

    noun — A person or organisation which is very old or has very old-fashioned views or is not willing to change and adapt.

    noun — Fried plantain.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • dogging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • doggo

    noun — A dog.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • doing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • dong

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • donning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • doodad

    noun — A thing (used in a vague way to refer to something whose name one cannot recall); especially an unspecified gadget, device, or part.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • gadding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • goad

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • goading

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • gonad

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • good

    adjective — (of people)

    interjection — That is good; an elliptical exclamation of satisfaction or commendation.

    adverb — Well; satisfactorily or thoroughly.

    noun — The forces or behaviours that are the enemy of evil. Usually consists of helping others and general benevolence.

    verb — To thrive; fatten; prosper; improve.

    verb — To furnish with dung; manure; fatten with manure; fertilise.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • indigo

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • nada

    pronoun — Nothing.

    Appeared in 17 recorded puzzles.

  • naiad

    noun — A female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water.

    noun — The aquatic larva (nymph) of a dragonfly or damselfly.

    noun — Any of various aquatic plants of the genus Najas.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • nodding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • nonbinding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ab×3
  • ad×3
  • ai×1
  • ba×6
  • bi×5
  • bo×3
  • da×2
  • di×6
  • do×8
  • ga×1
  • go×4
  • in×1
  • na×2
  • no×2

Words by first letter and length

45678910Σ
a ·132··1 7
b 312611· 14
d 5326··· 16
g 21·2··· 5
i ··1···· 1
n 11·1··1 4
Σ 117817112 47

The numbers

Genius today takes 179 points of 257 available. The average answer runs 6.0 letters.

Total points vs. all 434 recorded puzzles
72nd percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
52nd percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 19635 recorded answers

411 today34.4% all-time57 today22.9% all-time68 today20.1% all-time717 today12.0% all-time81 today6.2% 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 Thursday, April 23, 2026 Thursday, April 23, 2026
b Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Tuesday, April 21, 2026
d ● Thursday, April 23, 2026 Monday, January 26, 2026
g Thursday, April 16, 2026 Monday, April 13, 2026
i Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Thursday, March 26, 2026
n Thursday, April 23, 2026 Wednesday, April 22, 2026
o Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Thursday, April 2, 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. nene 26
  10. acacia 25
  11. acai 25
  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. aria 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.