Sunday, February 22, 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: 1

Maximum Puzzle Score: 212

Number of Answers: 42

Points Needed for Genius: 148

Genius requires between 20 and 35 words. You need at least an 8-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangram, you need 75% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangram, you only need 68% of the remaining points to reach genius.

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 212 was in the 69th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on February 21, 2026.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 42 possible answers rank it in the 56th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on February 21, 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 February 11, 2026.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 5.9.
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 231
  • loll 214
  • toot 210
  • nana 192
  • naan 192
  • tilt 152
  • till 152
  • lilt 152
  • nene 150
  • mamma 146
  • mama 146
  • tint 145
  • toon 138
  • onto 138
  • onion 138
  • acai 137
  • acacia 137
  • anon 131
  • anal 130
  • olio 124
  • papa 123
  • dodo 123
  • tact 122
  • lulu 121
  • lull 121
  • baba 121
  • poop 119
  • booboo 118
  • boob 118
  • mitt 116
  • moon 115
  • mono 115
  • cocci 114
  • tartar 113
  • tart 113
  • ratatat 113
  • calla 113
  • call 113
  • tutu 112
  • tattoo 112
  • loon 112
  • attar 112
  • ally 110
  • allay 110
  • tatty 109
  • momma 109
  • ammo 109
  • meme 108
  • roar 106
  • peep 105


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 113,991 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,927 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*:

  • gingili
  • gingilli
  • grrrl
  • guggling
  • guiling
  • iglu
  • inulin
  • kilning
  • klik
  • kluging
  • knurling
  • lignin
  • ling
  • linin
  • linn
  • liri
  • lungi
  • nill
  • nilling
  • nulling
  • nurl
  • nurling
  • rilling
  • runkling
  • ungluing

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

giggling

verb
  1. To laugh gently or in a high-pitched voice; to laugh in a silly or giddy way.
noun
  1. The act of producing giggles; high-pitched laughter

gill

Etymology 1

noun
  1. (animal anatomy) a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals
  2. (of a fish) a gill slit or gill cover
  3. One of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, on the surface of which the spore-producing organs are borne
  4. (animal anatomy) the fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle
  5. The flesh under or about the chin; a wattle
  6. (spinning) one of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments
verb
  1. To remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it
  2. To catch (a fish) in a gillnet
  3. To be or become entangled in a gillnet

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A drink measure for spirits and wine (size varies regionally but it is about one quarter of a pint)
  2. A measuring jug holding a quarter or half a pint

Etymology 3

noun
  1. Rivulet
  2. Ravine

Etymology 4

noun
  1. A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber

Etymology 5

noun
  1. A leech

Etymology 6

noun
  1. A female ferret
  2. A promiscuous woman; harlot, wanton
  3. A prostitute
verb
  1. To act as a prostitute.

gilling

verb
  1. To remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it
  2. To catch (a fish) in a gillnet
  3. To be or become entangled in a gillnet
verb
  1. To act as a prostitute.

girl

noun
  1. A female child, adolescent, or a young woman.
  2. A young female animal.
  3. (sometimes offensive) A woman, especially a young woman
  4. A female servant; a maid. (see usage notes)
  5. A queen (the playing card.)
  6. A term of endearment. (see usage notes)
  7. One's girlfriend.
  8. One's daughter.
  9. A roebuck two years old.
  10. Cocaine, especially in powder form.
  11. (somewhat childish) A female (tree, gene, etc).
  12. A boy or man who is weak or sentimental.
verb
  1. To feminize or girlify; to gender as a girl or as for girls.
  2. (somewhat informal) To staff with or as a girl or girls.

glug

noun
  1. The sound made when a significant amount of liquid is poured suddenly out of something, such as a jug or bottle.
  2. The amount of liquid issued when the "glug" sound is heard.
verb
  1. To flow in noisy bursts.
  2. To quickly swallow liquid.

glugging

verb
  1. To flow in noisy bursts.
  2. To quickly swallow liquid.
noun
  1. A sound that glugs.

gluing

verb
  1. To join or attach something using glue.
  2. To cause something to adhere closely to; to follow attentively.
noun
  1. The act of attaching something with glue.
  2. A connection between the edges of two planes, or between the points at the ends of two lines.

grill

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A grating; a grid of wire or a sheet of material with a pattern of holes or slots, usually used to protect something while allowing the passage of air and liquids. Typical uses: to allow air through a fan while preventing fingers or objects from passing; to allow people to talk to somebody, while preventing attack.
  2. On a vehicle, a slotted cover as above, to protect and hide the radiator, while admitting air to cool it.
  3. A cooking device comprising a source of radiative heat and a means of holding food under it; a broiler in US English
  4. A cooking device comprising a source of radiative and convective heat and a means of holding food above it; a barbecue.
  5. Food (designed to be) cooked on a grill.
  6. A grillroom; a restaurant serving grilled food.
  7. A type of jewelry worn on the front teeth.
  8. (by extension) The front teeth regarded collectively.
verb
  1. To cook (food) on a grill; to barbecue.
  2. To cook food under the element of a stove or only under the top element of an oven – broil, salamander.
  3. To interrogate; to question aggressively or harshly.
  4. To feel very hot; to swelter.
  5. To stamp or mark with a grill.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To make angry; provoke; incite.
  2. To terrify; make tremble.
  3. To tremble; shiver.
  4. To snarl; snap.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. Harm.
adjective
  1. Harsh, rough, severe; cruel.

grilling

verb
  1. To cook (food) on a grill; to barbecue.
  2. To cook food under the element of a stove or only under the top element of an oven – broil, salamander.
  3. To interrogate; to question aggressively or harshly.
  4. To feel very hot; to swelter.
  5. To stamp or mark with a grill.
verb
  1. To make angry; provoke; incite.
  2. To terrify; make tremble.
  3. To tremble; shiver.
  4. To snarl; snap.
noun
  1. A thorough interrogation.
  2. The act or process of grilling, or broiling.

gull

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A seabird of the genus Larus or of the family Laridae.
  2. Any of various pierid butterflies of the genus Cepora.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A cheating trick; a fraud.
  2. One easily cheated; a dupe.
  3. (Oxford University slang) A swindler or trickster.
verb
  1. To deceive or cheat.
  2. To mislead.
  3. To trick and defraud.

gulling

verb
  1. To deceive or cheat.
  2. To mislead.
  3. To trick and defraud.
noun
  1. An instance of duping or fooling somebody.

gurgling

verb
  1. To flow with a bubbling sound.
  2. To make such a sound.
noun
  1. A gurgling sound.

inkling

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Usually preceded by forms of to give: a slight hint, implication, or suggestion given.
  2. Often preceded by forms of to get or to have: an imprecise idea or slight knowledge of something; a suspicion.
  3. A desire, an inclination.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To hint at; disclose.
  2. To have a hint or inkling of; divine.

kill

Etymology 1

noun
  1. The act of killing.
  2. Specifically, the death blow.
  3. The result of killing; that which has been killed.
  4. The grounding of the ball on the opponent's court, winning the rally.
verb
  1. To put to death; to extinguish the life of.
  2. To render inoperative.
  3. To stop, cease or render void; to terminate.
  4. To amaze, exceed, stun or otherwise incapacitate.
  5. To cause great pain, discomfort or distress to.
  6. To produce feelings of dissatisfaction or revulsion in.
  7. To use up or to waste.
  8. To exert an overwhelming effect on.
  9. To overpower, overwhelm or defeat.
  10. To force a company out of business.
  11. To produce intense pain.
  12. To punish severely.
  13. To strike (a ball, etc.) with such force and placement as to make a shot that is impossible to defend against, usually winning a point.
  14. To cause (a ball, etc.) to be out of play, resulting in a stoppage of gameplay.
  15. To succeed with an audience, especially in comedy.
  16. To cause to assume the value zero.
  17. (IRC) To disconnect (a user) involuntarily from the network.
  18. To deadmelt.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. (north-east US) A creek; a body of water; a channel or arm of the sea.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A kiln.

killing

verb
  1. To put to death; to extinguish the life of.
  2. To render inoperative.
  3. To stop, cease or render void; to terminate.
  4. To amaze, exceed, stun or otherwise incapacitate.
  5. To cause great pain, discomfort or distress to.
  6. To produce feelings of dissatisfaction or revulsion in.
  7. To use up or to waste.
  8. To exert an overwhelming effect on.
  9. To overpower, overwhelm or defeat.
  10. To force a company out of business.
  11. To produce intense pain.
  12. To punish severely.
  13. To strike (a ball, etc.) with such force and placement as to make a shot that is impossible to defend against, usually winning a point.
  14. To cause (a ball, etc.) to be out of play, resulting in a stoppage of gameplay.
  15. To succeed with an audience, especially in comedy.
  16. To cause to assume the value zero.
  17. (IRC) To disconnect (a user) involuntarily from the network.
  18. To deadmelt.
noun
  1. An instance of someone being killed.
  2. (usually as make a killing) A large amount of money.
adjective
  1. That literally deprives of life; lethal, deadly, fatal.
  2. Devastatingly attractive.
  3. That makes one ‘die’ with laughter; very funny.

kiln

noun
  1. An oven or furnace or a heated chamber, for the purpose of hardening, burning, calcining or drying anything; for example, firing ceramics, curing or preserving tobacco, or drying grain.
verb
  1. To bake in a kiln.

knurl

noun
  1. A contorted knot in wood.
  2. A crossgrained protuberance; a nodule; a boss or projection.
  3. A lined or crossgrained pattern of ridges or indentations rolled or pressed into a part for grip.
verb
  1. To roll or press a pattern of ridges or indentations into a part for grip.

krill

noun
  1. Any of several small marine crustacean species of plankton in the order Euphausiacea in the class Malacostraca.

liking

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of.
  2. To please.
  3. To derive pleasure of, by or with someone or something.
  4. To prefer and maintain (an action) as a regular habit or activity.
  5. To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).
  6. To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly.
  7. To find attractive; to prefer the company of; to have mild romantic feelings for.
  8. To liken; to compare.
  9. To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote.
  10. (with 'would' and in certain other phrases) To want, desire. See also would like.
verb
  1. To be likely.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A like; a predilection.
  2. Approval.

linguini

noun
  1. Ribbons of pasta, cut from a sheet, not as wide as tagliatelle.

lining

verb
  1. To place (objects) into a line (usually used with "up"); to form into a line; to align.
  2. To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding; to fortify.
  3. To form a line along.
  4. To mark with a line or lines, to cover with lines.
  5. To represent by lines; to delineate; to portray.
  6. To read or repeat line by line.
  7. To hit a line drive; to hit a line drive which is caught for an out. Compare fly and ground.
  8. To track (wild bees) to their nest by following their line of flight.
  9. To measure.
verb
  1. To cover the inner surface of (something), originally especially with linen.
  2. To reinforce (the back of a book) with glue and glued scrap material such as fabric or paper.
  3. To fill or supply (something), as a purse with money.
verb
  1. (of a dog) To copulate with, to impregnate.
noun
  1. A covering for the inside surface of something.
  2. The material used for such a covering.
  3. The act of attaching such a covering.

linking

verb
  1. To connect two or more things.
  2. (of a Web page) To contain a hyperlink to another page.
  3. To supply (somebody) with a hyperlink; to direct by means of a link.
  4. To post a hyperlink to.
  5. To demonstrate a correlation between two things.
  6. To combine objects generated by a compiler into a single executable.
verb
  1. To skip or trip along smartly; to go quickly.
noun
  1. Linkage
adjective
  1. Serving to connect other things together.

lugging

verb
  1. (sometimes figurative) To haul or drag along (especially something heavy); to carry; to pull.
  2. To run at too slow a speed.
  3. To carry an excessive amount of sail for the conditions prevailing.
  4. To pull toward the inside rail ("lugging in") or the outside rail ("lugging out") during a race.
noun
  1. The process by which something is lugged from one place to another; a laborious carrying or dragging.

luging

verb
  1. To travel by luge; to ride a luge.

lull

noun
  1. A period of rest or soothing.
  2. A period of reduced activity; a respite
  3. A period without waves or wind.
  4. An extended pause between sets of waves.
verb
  1. To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm
  2. To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.

lulling

verb
  1. To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm
  2. To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.

lulu

noun
  1. A remarkable person, object or idea.
  2. A very attractive or alluring person.
  3. A very bad mistake or error.
  4. A fixed allowance paid to a legislator in lieu of reimbursement for actual expenses.

lung

noun
  1. A biological organ of vertebrates that controls breathing and oxygenates the blood.
  2. (plural) Capacity for exercise or exertion; breath.
  3. That which supplies oxygen or fresh air, such as trees, parklands, forest, etc., to a place.

lunging

verb
  1. To (cause to make) a sudden forward movement (present participle: lunging).
  2. To longe or work a horse in a circle around a handler (present participle: lunging or lungeing).
noun
  1. The act of one who lunges; a lunge.

lunk

noun
  1. A fool; an idiot; a lunkhead.

luring

verb
  1. To attract by temptation etc.; to entice
  2. To recall a hawk with a lure
noun
  1. Allurement

lurk

noun
  1. The act of lurking.
  2. A swindle.
verb
  1. To remain concealed in order to ambush.
  2. To remain unobserved.
  3. To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.
  4. To view an internet forum without posting comments.
  5. To saddle (a person) with an undesirable task or duty.

lurking

verb
  1. To remain concealed in order to ambush.
  2. To remain unobserved.
  3. To hang out or wait around a location, preferably without drawing attention to oneself.
  4. To view an internet forum without posting comments.
  5. To saddle (a person) with an undesirable task or duty.
noun
  1. The act of one who lurks.

niggling

verb
  1. To trifle with; to deceive; to mock.
  2. To use, spend, or do in a petty or trifling manner.
  3. To dwell too much on minor points or on trifling details.
  4. To fidget, fiddle, be restless.
noun
  1. A sensation that niggles.
adjective
  1. Petty

null

noun
  1. A non-existent or empty value or set of values.
  2. Zero quantity of expressions; nothing.
  3. Something that has no force or meaning.
  4. The ASCII or Unicode character (␀), represented by a zero value, that indicates no character and is sometimes used as a string terminator.
  5. The attribute of an entity that has no valid value.
  6. One of the beads in nulled work.
  7. Null hypothesis.
verb
  1. To nullify; to annul.
  2. To form nulls, or into nulls, as in a lathe.
  3. To crack; to remove restrictions or limitations in (software).
adjective
  1. Having no validity; "null and void"
  2. Insignificant.
  3. Absent or non-existent.
  4. Of the null set.
  5. Of or comprising a value of precisely zero.
  6. (of a mutation) Causing a complete loss of gene function, amorphic.

riling

verb
  1. To make angry
  2. To stir or move from a state of calm or order

rill

noun
  1. A very small brook; a streamlet.
verb
  1. To trickle, pour, or run like a small stream.
noun
  1. A long, narrow depression that resembles a channel, found on the surface of various lunar and planetary bodies.

ruling

verb
  1. To regulate, be in charge of, make decisions for, reign over.
  2. To excel.
  3. To mark (paper or the like) with rules (lines).
  4. To decide judicially.
  5. To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice.
verb
  1. To revel.
noun
  1. An order or a decision on a point of law from someone in authority.
adjective
  1. That rules; predominant; chief; reigning; controlling.

unlinking

verb
  1. To decouple; to remove a link from, or separate the links of.
  2. To delete (a file).

unliking

verb
  1. To dislike.
  2. To withdraw support for a particular thing, especially on social networking websites.