Thursday, July 23, 2026

Answers to yesterday's Bee

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The official answers for today's puzzle are:

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Number of Pangrams: 2

Maximum Puzzle Score: 239

Number of Answers: 40

Points Needed for Genius: 167

Genius requires between 20 and 34 words. You need at least an 8-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangrams, you need 81% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangrams, you only need 65% of the remaining points to reach genius.

Other days with this pangram:

The button below will reveal a chart with the number of words by each letter. Red bars indicate that there is a pangram(s) starting with that letter.


How does this puzzle compare to other puzzles?

Today's score of 239 was in the 78th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on July 18, 2026.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 40 possible answers rank it in the 50th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on July 18, 2026.
The highest number of answers was 81 on June 08, 2019.
The lowest number of answers was 16 on March 27, 2023.

It takes an 8-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on July 04, 2026.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 6.3.
For all Bees, the average word length has been 5.3.



Haven't I seen these letters before?

Hover over a letter to see its first and most recent appearance in the Bee!



Haven't I seen these words before?

The most common words in the Bee are:

  • noon 246
  • loll 227
  • toot 219
  • nana 204
  • naan 204
  • tilt 160
  • till 160
  • lilt 160
  • nene 158
  • mamma 158
  • mama 158
  • tint 154
  • onion 152
  • acai 149
  • acacia 149
  • toon 147
  • onto 147
  • olio 139
  • anon 138
  • anal 136
  • tact 130
  • papa 129
  • baba 127
  • lulu 126
  • lull 126
  • dodo 126
  • mitt 124
  • loon 123
  • calla 122
  • call 122
  • poop 121
  • booboo 121
  • boob 121
  • moon 119
  • mono 119
  • cocci 119
  • tartar 118
  • tart 118
  • ratatat 118
  • tattoo 117
  • attar 117
  • tutu 115
  • ally 114
  • allay 114
  • momma 113
  • cancan 113
  • aria 113
  • ammo 113
  • tatty 111
  • roar 111


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 120,801 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 11,067 unique words.
Below are the distributions of the lengths of these words.



Valid dictionary words not in today's official answers

You may be wondering why these words aren't here*:

  • coff
  • coof
  • defence
  • defenced
  • duffed
  • enfeoff
  • enfeoffed
  • enuf
  • fennec
  • feod
  • feoff
  • feoffed
  • feoffee
  • feued
  • fonded
  • fondu
  • fondued
  • funned
  • nonfood
  • nonfunded
  • nuff
  • offence
  • unconfounded
  • unfence
  • unfond
  • unfound

*Because the New York Times considers them obscure or offensive.

coffee

noun
  1. A beverage made by infusing the beans of the coffee plant in hot water.
  2. A serving of this beverage.
  3. The seeds of the plant used to make coffee, misnamed ‘beans’ due to their shape.
  4. The powder made by roasting and grinding the seeds.
  5. A tropical plant of the genus Coffea.
  6. A pale brown colour, like that of milk coffee.
  7. The end of a meal, when coffee is served.
verb
  1. To drink coffee.
adjective
  1. Of a pale brown colour, like that of milk coffee.
  2. Of a table: a small, low table suitable for people in lounge seating to put coffee cups on.

cofound

verb
  1. To found at the same time as another.
  2. To found with one or more other people.

cofounded

verb
  1. To found at the same time as another.
  2. To found with one or more other people.
adjective
  1. Founded at the same time as another, or by two or more people

confound

noun
  1. A confounding variable.
verb
  1. To perplex or puzzle.
  2. To fail to see the difference; to mix up; to confuse right and wrong.
  3. To make something worse.
  4. To combine in a confused fashion; to mingle so as to make the parts indistinguishable.
  5. To cause to be ashamed; to abash.
  6. To defeat, to frustrate, to thwart.
  7. To damn (a mild oath).
  8. To bring to ruination.
  9. To stun, amaze

confounded

verb
  1. To perplex or puzzle.
  2. To fail to see the difference; to mix up; to confuse right and wrong.
  3. To make something worse.
  4. To combine in a confused fashion; to mingle so as to make the parts indistinguishable.
  5. To cause to be ashamed; to abash.
  6. To defeat, to frustrate, to thwart.
  7. To damn (a mild oath).
  8. To bring to ruination.
  9. To stun, amaze
adjective
  1. Confused, astonished
  2. Defeated, thwarted
  3. Damned, accursed, bloody

cuff

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Glove; mitten
  2. The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist
  3. The end of a pants leg, folded up
  4. Handcuffs
verb
  1. To furnish with cuffs.
  2. To handcuff.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
verb
  1. To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
  2. To fight; to scuffle; to box.
  3. To buffet.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. The scruff of the neck.

cuffed

verb
  1. To furnish with cuffs.
  2. To handcuff.
verb
  1. To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
  2. To fight; to scuffle; to box.
  3. To buffet.
adjective
  1. Fitted with a cuff.

defend

verb
  1. To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.
  2. To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.
  3. To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).
  4. To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.
  5. To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.
  6. To call a raise from the big blind.
  7. To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).
  8. To prevent, to keep (from doing something).
  9. To prohibit, forbid.

defended

verb
  1. To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.
  2. To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.
  3. To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).
  4. To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.
  5. To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.
  6. To call a raise from the big blind.
  7. To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).
  8. To prevent, to keep (from doing something).
  9. To prohibit, forbid.

defund

verb
  1. To cancel funding for.

defunded

verb
  1. To cancel funding for.

doff

verb
  1. (clothing) To remove or take off, especially of clothing.
  2. To remove or tip a hat, as in greeting, salutation or as a mark of respect.
  3. To get rid of, to throw off.
  4. To strip; to divest; to undress.

doffed

verb
  1. (clothing) To remove or take off, especially of clothing.
  2. To remove or tip a hat, as in greeting, salutation or as a mark of respect.
  3. To get rid of, to throw off.
  4. To strip; to divest; to undress.

duff

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Dough.
  2. A stiff flour pudding, often with dried fruit, boiled in a cloth bag, or steamed.
  3. A pudding-style dessert, especially one made with plums.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Decaying vegetable matter on the forest floor.
  2. Coal dust, especially that left after screening or combined with other small, unsaleable bits of coal.
  3. Fine and dry coal in small pieces, usually anthracite.
  4. A mixture of coal and rock.
  5. The bits left in the bottom of the bag after the booty has been consumed, like crumbs.
  6. Something spurious or fake; a counterfeit, a worthless thing.
  7. (1800s) An error.
adjective
  1. Worthless; not working properly, defective.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. The buttocks.

Etymology 4

verb
  1. To disguise something to make it look new.
  2. To alter the branding of stolen cattle; to steal cattle.
  3. (with "up") To beat up.
  4. To hit the ground behind the ball.

Etymology 5

noun
  1. A large frame drum, resembling a tambourine, used to accompany popular and classical music in the Middle East.

fecund

adjective
  1. Highly fertile; able to produce offspring.
  2. Leading to new ideas or innovation.

feed

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Food given to (especially herbivorous) animals.
  2. Something supplied continuously.
  3. The part of a machine that supplies the material to be operated upon.
  4. The forward motion of the material fed into a machine.
  5. A meal.
  6. A gathering to eat, especially in quantity.
  7. Encapsulated online content, such as news or a blog, that can be subscribed to.
verb
  1. (ditransitive) To give (someone or something) food to eat.
  2. To eat (usually of animals).
  3. To give (someone or something) to (someone or something else) as food.
  4. To give to a machine to be processed.
  5. To satisfy, gratify, or minister to (a sense, taste, desire, etc.).
  6. To supply with something.
  7. To graze; to cause to be cropped by feeding, as herbage by cattle.
  8. To pass to.
  9. (of a phonological rule) To create the environment where another phonological rule can apply; to be applied before another rule.
  10. (of a syntactic rule) To create the syntactic environment in which another syntactic rule is applied; to be applied before another syntactic rule.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe.

fence

noun
  1. A thin artificial barrier that separates two pieces of land or a house perimeter.
  2. Someone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods.
  3. Skill in oral debate.
  4. The art or practice of fencing.
  5. A guard or guide on machinery.
  6. A barrier, for example an emotional barrier.
  7. A memory barrier.
verb
  1. To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
  2. To defend or guard.
  3. To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
  4. To engage in the sport of fencing.
  5. To jump over a fence.
  6. To conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive.

fenced

verb
  1. To enclose, contain or separate by building fence.
  2. To defend or guard.
  3. To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods.
  4. To engage in the sport of fencing.
  5. To jump over a fence.
  6. To conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive.
adjective
  1. Surrounded by a fence; enclosed.

fend

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Self-support; taking care of one's own well-being.
verb
  1. To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.
  2. (except as "fend for oneself") To defend, to take care of (typically construed with for); to block or push away (typically construed with off).

Etymology 2

noun
  1. An enemy; fiend; the Devil.

fended

verb
  1. To take care of oneself; to take responsibility for one's own well-being.
  2. (except as "fend for oneself") To defend, to take care of (typically construed with for); to block or push away (typically construed with off).

feud

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A state of long-standing mutual hostility.
  2. A staged rivalry between wrestlers.
  3. A combination of kindred to avenge injuries or affronts, done or offered to any of their blood, on the offender and all his race.
verb
  1. To carry on a feud.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. An estate granted to a vassal by a feudal lord in exchange for service.

feuded

verb
  1. To carry on a feud.

fond

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To have a foolish affection for, to be fond of.
  2. To caress; to fondle.
adjective
  1. (chiefly with of) Having a liking or affection (for).
  2. Affectionate.
  3. Indulgent.
  4. Outlandish; foolish; silly.
  5. Foolish; simple; weak.
  6. Doted on; regarded with affection.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The background design in lace-making.
  2. Brown residue in pans from cooking meats and vegetables.
  3. A group of records having shared provenance.
  4. Foundation; bottom; groundwork.
  5. Fund, stock, or store.

fondue

noun
  1. A dish made of melted cheese, chocolate etc., or of a boiling liquid into which food can be dipped.
verb
  1. To prepare or serve as a fondue.

food

noun
  1. Any solid substance that can be consumed by living organisms, especially by eating, in order to sustain life.
  2. A foodstuff.
  3. Anything that nourishes or sustains.

found

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon.
  2. To encounter or discover something being searched for; to locate.
  3. (ditransitive) To discover by study or experiment direct to an object or end.
  4. To gain, as the object of desire or effort.
  5. To attain to; to arrive at; to acquire.
  6. To point out.
  7. (ditransitive) To decide that, to discover that, to form the opinion that.
  8. To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish.
  9. To supply; to furnish.
  10. To provide for
  11. To determine or judge.
  12. To discover game.
noun
  1. Food and lodging; board.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To start (an institution or organization).
  2. To begin building.

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To melt, especially of metal in an industrial setting.
  2. To form by melting a metal and pouring it into a mould; to cast.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. A thin, single-cut file for comb-makers.

founded

verb
  1. To start (an institution or organization).
  2. To begin building.
verb
  1. To melt, especially of metal in an industrial setting.
  2. To form by melting a metal and pouring it into a mould; to cast.
adjective
  1. Having a basis.

fund

noun
  1. A sum or source of money.
  2. An organization managing such money.
  3. A money-management operation, such as a mutual fund.
  4. A large supply of something to be drawn upon.
verb
  1. To pay for.
  2. To place (money) in a fund.
  3. To form a debt into a stock charged with interest.

funded

verb
  1. To pay for.
  2. To place (money) in a fund.
  3. To form a debt into a stock charged with interest.
adjective
  1. Having received financial support; paid for.
  2. Invested in public funds; existing in the form of bonds.

offed

verb
  1. To kill.
  2. To switch off.

offend

verb
  1. To hurt the feelings of; to displease; to make angry; to insult.
  2. To feel or become offended; to take insult.
  3. To physically harm, pain.
  4. To annoy, cause discomfort or resent.
  5. To sin, transgress divine law or moral rules.
  6. To transgress or violate a law or moral requirement.
  7. To cause to stumble; to cause to sin or to fall.

offended

verb
  1. To hurt the feelings of; to displease; to make angry; to insult.
  2. To feel or become offended; to take insult.
  3. To physically harm, pain.
  4. To annoy, cause discomfort or resent.
  5. To sin, transgress divine law or moral rules.
  6. To transgress or violate a law or moral requirement.
  7. To cause to stumble; to cause to sin or to fall.

uncuff

No Definition Found.

uncuffed

No Definition Found.

undefended

adjective
  1. Not defended.

unfed

noun
  1. A mosquito that has not had a blood meal.
adjective
  1. Not fed.
  2. Unsupported.

unfenced

adjective
  1. Not enclosed by a fence or other boundary; free to roam over a wider area.
  2. Without protection; defenseless.

unfounded

adjective
  1. Having no strong foundation; not based on solid reasons or facts.
  2. Not having been founded or instituted.
  3. Bottomless.

unfunded

adjective
  1. Not funded; having received no funding.

unoffended

adjective
  1. Not offended.