The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

CDEINYA

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Words
61
Points
307
Genius
214
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 61 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • acacia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 22 recorded puzzles.

  • acai

    noun — The fruit of these trees, harvested for its juice.

    noun — Any of several South American palms, of the genus Euterpe, having a dark purple drupe.

    Appeared in 22 recorded puzzles.

  • accede

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • acceded

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • aced

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • acid

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • acidic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • acidy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • acne

    noun — A skin condition, usually of the face, that is common in adolescents. It is characterised by red pimples, and is caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands through bacterial infection.

    noun — A pattern of blemishes in an area of skin resulting from the skin condition.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • added

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • addend

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • addenda

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • adenine

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • aide

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • aided

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • caddie

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • caddied

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • caddy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • cadence

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • cancan

    noun — A high-kicking chorus line dance originating in France.

    verb — To dance the cancan.

    noun — (motocross) A trick where one leg is brought over the seat, so that both legs are on one side.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • candid

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • candidacy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • candied

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • candy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • cane

    noun — A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof

    noun — The stem of such a plant adapted for use as a tool

    verb — To strike or beat with a cane or similar implement

    noun — A rod-shaped tool or device, somewhat like a cane

    noun — Split rattan, as used in wickerwork, basketry and the like

    verb — To make or furnish with cane or rattan.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • caned

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • canid

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • canine

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • canna

    noun — Any member of the genus Canna of tropical plants with large leaves and often showy flowers.

    noun — A measure of length in Italy, varying from six to seven feet.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • canned

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • canny

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • cayenne

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • cicada

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • cyan

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • cyanide

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • daddy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • dance

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • danced

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • dandy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • dead

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • deaden

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • deadened

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • deadeye

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • dean

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • decade

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • decadence

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • decay

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • decayed

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • dyad

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • ennead

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • idea

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • inane

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • indica

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • indicia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • naan

    noun — A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.

    Appeared in 30 recorded puzzles.

  • nada

    pronoun — Nothing.

    Appeared in 13 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 10 recorded puzzles.

  • nana

    noun — (term of endearment) one's grandmother

    noun — A banana

    noun — A fool

    noun — A nanny

    Appeared in 30 recorded puzzles.

  • nannied

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • nanny

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • niacin

    noun — A water-soluble vitamin, a component of vitamin B complex, found in meat, yeast, and dairy products; it is essential to metabolism.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

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

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ac×9
  • ad×4
  • ai×2
  • ca×17
  • ci×1
  • cy×2
  • da×4
  • de×9
  • dy×1
  • en×1
  • id×1
  • in×3
  • na×6
  • ni×1

Words by first letter and length

456789Σ
a 5343·· 15
c 2665·1 20
d 343211 14
e ··1··· 1
i 1111·· 4
n 3211·· 7
Σ 1416161212 61

The numbers

Genius today takes 214 points of 307 available. The average answer runs 5.6 letters.

Total points vs. all 378 recorded puzzles
88th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
85th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17142 recorded answers

414 today34.5% all-time516 today22.8% all-time616 today20.0% all-time712 today12.1% all-time81 today6.3% all-time92 today2.5% 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 ● Friday, May 22, 2026 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
c Thursday, May 21, 2026 Tuesday, May 12, 2026
d Thursday, May 21, 2026 Friday, April 24, 2026
e Thursday, May 21, 2026 Saturday, March 21, 2026
i Friday, May 22, 2026 Thursday, May 14, 2026
n Friday, May 22, 2026 Thursday, May 7, 2026
y Friday, May 8, 2026 Saturday, February 7, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 41
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 28
  5. toot 27
  6. loll 27
  7. mama 24
  8. mamma 24
  9. cocoon 23
  10. nene 23
  11. acacia 22
  12. acai 22
  13. bill 22
  14. loon 22
  15. aria 21
  16. onto 21
  17. toon 21
  18. cancan 21
  19. canna 21
  20. neon 21
  21. none 21
  22. olio 21
  23. anon 20
  24. lull 19
  25. lulu 19

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.