The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

GINOTUK

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Words
26
Points
131
Genius
91
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 26 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • ginkgo

    noun — Ginkgo biloba, a tree native to China with small, fan-shaped leaves and edible seeds.

    noun — The seed of the ginkgo tree.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • gunk

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • inking

    verb — To apply ink to; to cover or smear with ink.

    verb — To sign (a contract or similar document).

    verb — To apply a tattoo to (someone).

    noun — An application of ink.

    noun — Inputting text or drawings into a computer, tablet, or similar apparatus using a stylus.

    verb — (of a squid or octopus) to eject ink (sense 3)

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • king

    noun — A male monarch; a man who heads a monarchy. If it's an absolute monarchy, then he is the supreme ruler of his nation.

    noun — A powerful or majorly influential person.

    noun — A component of certain games.

    noun — A king-sized bed.

    noun — Something that has a preeminent position.

    verb — To crown king, to make (a person) king.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • kinging

    verb — To promote a piece of draughts/checkers that has traversed the board to the opposite side, that piece subsequently being permitted to move backwards as well as forwards.

    verb — To assume or pretend preeminence (over); to lord it over.

    verb — To dress and perform as a drag king.

    verb — To crown king, to make (a person) king.

    verb — To rule over as king.

    verb — To perform the duties of a king.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • kink

    noun — A tight curl, twist, or bend in a length of thin material, hair etc.

    noun — A difficulty or flaw that is likely to impede operation, as in a plan or system.

    noun — Peculiarity or deviation in sexual behaviour or taste.

    verb — To form a kink or twist.

    verb — To be formed into a kink or twist.

    noun — An unreasonable notion; a crotchet; a whim; a caprice.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • kinking

    verb — To form a kink or twist.

    verb — To be formed into a kink or twist.

    verb — To laugh loudly.

    verb — To gasp for breath as in a severe fit of coughing.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • kiting

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knit

    noun — A knitted garment.

    verb — To turn thread or yarn into a piece of fabric by forming loops that are pulled through each other. This can be done by hand with needles or by machine.

    noun — A session of knitting.

    verb — To join closely and firmly together.

    verb — To become closely and firmly joined; become compacted.

    verb — To grow together.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • knitting

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knot

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knotting

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • kook

    noun — An eccentric, strange or crazy person.

    noun — (kiteboarding, wakeboarding) A boardsport participant who lacks style or skill; a newbie who acts as if they are better at the sport than they are.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • nook

    noun — A small corner formed by two walls; an alcove.

    verb — To withdraw into a nook.

    noun — A hidden or secluded spot; a secluded retreat.

    noun — A recess, cove or hollow.

    noun — An English unit of land area, originally 1/4 of a yardland but later 12 1/2 or 20 acres.

    noun — A corner of a piece of land; an angled piece of land, especially one extending into other land.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • nuking

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • oink

    noun — The sound made by a pig, or an imitation thereof.

    verb — Of a pig or in imitation thereof, to make its characteristic sound.

    interjection — Representing the sound made by a pig.

    interjection — Drawing attention to male chauvinism (from the term male chauvinist pig).

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • oinking

    verb — Of a pig or in imitation thereof, to make its characteristic sound.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • tiki

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • toking

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • took

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • unkink

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • unkinking

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unknit

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unknitting

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unknot

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unknotting

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • gi×1
  • gu×1
  • in×1
  • ki×5
  • kn×4
  • ko×1
  • no×1
  • nu×1
  • oi×2
  • ti×1
  • to×2
  • un×6

Words by first letter and length

4678910Σ
g 11···· 2
i ·1···· 1
k 5122·· 10
n 11···· 2
o 1·1··· 2
t 21···· 3
u ·3··12 6
Σ 1083212 26

The numbers

Genius today takes 91 points of 131 available. The average answer runs 5.9 letters.

Total points vs. all 431 recorded puzzles
17th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
7th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 19454 recorded answers

410 today34.5% all-time522.9% all-time68 today20.0% all-time73 today12.0% all-time82 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
g Thursday, May 21, 2026 Thursday, May 21, 2026
i Saturday, May 23, 2026 Thursday, May 14, 2026
k ● Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Friday, April 3, 2026
n Saturday, May 23, 2026 Thursday, May 7, 2026
o Friday, May 22, 2026 Friday, May 22, 2026
t Friday, May 22, 2026 Monday, May 11, 2026
u Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Tuesday, May 19, 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 27
  8. mamma 27
  9. nene 26
  10. acacia 25
  11. acai 25
  12. cocoon 24
  13. onto 24
  14. toon 24
  15. mini 24
  16. minim 24
  17. loon 24
  18. olio 24
  19. aria 23
  20. imam 23
  21. maim 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.