Thursday, March 13, 2025

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: 235

Number of Answers: 39

Points Needed for Genius: 165

Genius requires between 21 and 33 words. You need at least a 7-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 66% 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 235 was in the 79th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on March 9, 2025.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 39 possible answers rank it in the 51st percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on March 12, 2025.
The highest number of answers was 81 on June 8, 2019.
The lowest number of answers was 16 on March 27, 2023.

It takes a 7-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on March 12, 2025.

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 192
  • loll 184
  • toot 181
  • naan 168
  • nana 168
  • lilt 136
  • till 136
  • tilt 136
  • tint 134
  • mama 127
  • mamma 127
  • nene 126
  • acacia 119
  • acai 119
  • onto 118
  • toon 118
  • anal 113
  • onion 113
  • anon 109
  • boob 109
  • booboo 109
  • baba 107
  • olio 105
  • dodo 103
  • lull 103
  • lulu 103
  • papa 103
  • tact 103
  • call 102
  • calla 102
  • mitt 102
  • poop 102
  • ratatat 100
  • tart 100
  • tartar 100
  • tatty 100
  • allay 99
  • ally 99
  • attar 99
  • tattoo 99
  • tutu 99
  • ammo 97
  • cocci 97
  • epee 97
  • momma 97
  • mono 97
  • moon 97
  • peep 97
  • nada 93
  • loon 92


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 98,389 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,516 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*:

  • coppicing
  • couping
  • gipon
  • gipping
  • oping
  • piggin
  • piing
  • pingo
  • pinon
  • pion
  • pionic
  • pipping
  • poco
  • pogonip
  • poncing
  • ponging
  • pongo
  • pooing
  • poon
  • puccoon
  • pugging
  • pung
  • pupping
  • pupu
  • upgoing

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

cioppino

noun
  1. An Italian-American shellfish and tomato stew.

coop

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A basket, pen or enclosure for birds or small animals.
  2. A wickerwork basket (kipe) or other enclosure for catching fish.
  3. A narrow place of confinement, a cage; a jail, a prison.
  4. A barrel or cask for holding liquids.
verb
  1. To keep in a coop.
  2. To shut up or confine in a narrow space; to cramp.
  3. To unlawfully confine one or more voters to prevent them from casting their ballots in an election.
  4. (law enforcement) Of a police officer: to sleep or relax while on duty.
  5. To make or repair barrels, casks and other wooden vessels; to work upon in the manner of a cooper.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A cart with sides and ends made from boards, enabling it to carry manure, etc.
  2. A cart which opens at the back to release its load; a tumbril.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A small heap.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. A unit of a housing co-operative; a purchased apartment where the apartment owners collectively are responsible for maintenance of common areas and upkeep.
  2. Any co-operative, including housing, retail, utility, agricultural, banking or worker cooperatives.
  3. Any shop owned by a co-operative.
  4. A co-operative game, as opposed to a competitive game or deathmatch.

cooping

verb
  1. To keep in a coop.
  2. To shut up or confine in a narrow space; to cramp.
  3. To unlawfully confine one or more voters to prevent them from casting their ballots in an election.
  4. (law enforcement) Of a police officer: to sleep or relax while on duty.
  5. To make or repair barrels, casks and other wooden vessels; to work upon in the manner of a cooper.
noun
  1. The practice of forcing unwilling participants to vote, often several times over, for a particular candidate in an election.

coping

verb
  1. To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.
  2. To cut and form a mitred joint in wood or metal.
  3. To clip the beak or talons of a bird.
verb
  1. To cover (a joint or structure) with coping.
  2. To form a cope or arch; to bend or arch; to bow.
verb
  1. To bargain for; to buy.
  2. To exchange or barter.
  3. To make return for; to requite; to repay.
  4. To match oneself against; to meet; to encounter.
  5. To encounter; to meet; to have to do with.
noun
  1. The top layer of a brick wall, especially one that slopes in order to throw off water.
  2. The process of managing taxing circumstances, expending effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems, and seeking to master, minimize, reduce or tolerate stress or conflict.
  3. Clipping the beak or talons of a bird.

copping

verb
  1. To obtain, to purchase (as in drugs), to get hold of, to take.
  2. To (be forced to) take; to receive; to shoulder; to bear, especially blame or punishment for a particular instance of wrongdoing.
  3. (trainspotting) To see and record a railway locomotive for the first time.
  4. To steal.
  5. To adopt.
  6. To earn by bad behavior.
  7. (usually with “to”) to admit, especially to a crime.
  8. For a pimp to recruit a prostitute into the stable.

coup

noun
  1. A quick, brilliant, and highly successful act.
  2. (of Native Americans) A blow against an enemy delivered in a way that shows bravery.
  3. A coup d'état.
  4. (by extension) A takeover of one group by another.
  5. A single roll of the wheel at roulette, or a deal in rouge et noir.
  6. One of various named strategies employed by the declarer to win more tricks, such as the Bath coup.
verb
  1. To make a coup.

coupon

noun
  1. A section of a ticket, showing the holder to be entitled to some specified accommodation or service, as to a passage over a designated line of travel, a particular seat in a theater, a discount, etc.
  2. A voucher issued by a manufacturer or retailer which offers a discount on a particular product.
  3. A certificate of interest due, printed at the bottom of transferable bonds (state, railroad, etc.), given for a term of years, designed to be cut off and presented for payment when the interest is due; an interest warrant.
  4. Any interest payment made or due on a bond, debenture or similar (no longer by a physical coupon).
  5. The letter sent to parliamentary candidates at the 1918 general election, endorsing them as official representatives of the coalition government.
  6. A person's face.
verb
  1. To use coupons to a such extent that makes the user actively looking for coupons in magazines, online and whatever they can be found.

couponing

noun
  1. The use or distribution of money-saving coupons.

cupping

Etymology 1

noun
  1. The operation of drawing blood to or from the surface of the person by forming a partial vacuum over the spot.
  2. A similar operation for drawing pus from an abscess.
  3. Fire cupping, a traditional therapeutic treatment called in which heated cupping glasses are applied to the skin, supposedly to draw blood towards the surface.
  4. The taking of a small amount of a beverage such as tea or coffee into the mouth in order to taste it; a session where this is done.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To form into the shape of a cup, particularly of the hands.
  2. To hold something in cupped hands.
  3. To pour (a liquid, drink, etc.) into a cup.
  4. To supply with cups of wine.
  5. To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping.
  6. To make concave or in the form of a cup.

goop

noun
  1. (usually uncountable) A thick, slimy substance; goo.
  2. A silly, stupid, or boorish person.

nipping

verb
  1. To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
  2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
  3. To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
  4. To annoy, as by nipping.
  5. To taunt.
  6. To squeeze or pinch.
  7. To steal; especially to cut a purse.
verb
  1. To make a quick, short journey or errand, usually a round trip.
noun
  1. The act or sensation of giving a nip.

opining

verb
  1. To have or express an opinion; to state as an opinion; to suppose, consider (that).
  2. To give one's formal opinion (on or upon something).
noun
  1. The act of giving one's opinion.

opinion

noun
  1. A subjective belief, judgment or perspective that a person has formed about a topic, issue, person or thing.
  2. The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
  3. Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
  4. Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
  5. The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
  6. (European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible
verb
  1. To have or express as an opinion.

oppugn

verb
  1. To contradict or controvert; to oppose; to challenge or question the truth or validity of a given statement.

oppugning

verb
  1. To contradict or controvert; to oppose; to challenge or question the truth or validity of a given statement.

picnic

noun
  1. An informal social gathering, usually in a natural outdoor setting, to which the participants bring their own food and drink.
  2. The meal eaten at such a gathering.
  3. An easy or pleasant task.
  4. An entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table.
verb
  1. To take part in a picnic.

pigging

Etymology 1

verb
  1. (of swine) to give birth.
  2. To greedily consume (especially food).
  3. To huddle or lie together like pigs, in one bed.
  4. To clean (a pipeline) using a pig (the device).
noun
  1. The use of a pig (the device) to clean a pipeline.
adjective
  1. Damned (used as a mild intensive).

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A small pail, can or ladle with the handle on the side; a lading-can. In the colonial era, some buckets were made like a small barrel, but with one stave left extra long. This stave would be carved into a handle so the bucket could be used as an oversized scoop for scattering grain, slopping the hogs, etc.

ping

noun
  1. A high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.
  2. (submarine navigation) A pulse of high-pitched or ultrasonic sound whose echoes provide information about nearby objects and vessels.
  3. A packet which a remote host is expected to echo, thus indicating its presence.
  4. An email or other message sent requesting acknowledgement.
  5. Latency.
  6. A means of highlighting a feature on the game map so that allied players can see it.
  7. (WMF jargon) A notification.
verb
  1. To make a high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.
  2. (submarine navigation) To emit a signal and then listen for its echo in order to detect objects.
  3. To send a packet in order to determine whether a host is present, particularly by use of the ping utility.
  4. (by extension) To send an email or other message to someone in hopes of eliciting a response.
  5. To flick.
  6. To bounce.
  7. To cause something to bounce.
  8. To call out audibly.
  9. To penalize.

pinging

verb
  1. To make a high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.
  2. (submarine navigation) To emit a signal and then listen for its echo in order to detect objects.
  3. To send a packet in order to determine whether a host is present, particularly by use of the ping utility.
  4. (by extension) To send an email or other message to someone in hopes of eliciting a response.
  5. To flick.
  6. To bounce.
  7. To cause something to bounce.
  8. To call out audibly.
  9. To penalize.
noun
  1. The sound of a ping.
  2. The act of sending a ping, as by a submarine or over a computer network.

pining

verb
  1. To languish; to lose flesh or wear away through distress.
  2. To long, to yearn so much that it causes suffering.
  3. To grieve or mourn for.
  4. To inflict pain upon; to torment.
noun
  1. The act of one who pines.

pinion

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A wing.
  2. The joint of a bird's wing farthest from the body.
  3. Any of the outermost primary feathers on a bird's wing.
  4. A moth of the genus Lithophane.
  5. A fetter for the arm.
verb
  1. To cut off the pinion of a bird’s wing, or otherwise disable or bind its wings, in order to prevent it from flying.
  2. To bind the arms of someone, so as to deprive him of their use; to disable by so binding.
  3. (transferred sense) To restrain; to limit.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The smallest gear in a gear train.

pinioning

verb
  1. To cut off the pinion of a bird’s wing, or otherwise disable or bind its wings, in order to prevent it from flying.
  2. To bind the arms of someone, so as to deprive him of their use; to disable by so binding.
  3. (transferred sense) To restrain; to limit.

pinning

verb
  1. To shape metal by striking it, especially with a peen.
verb
  1. (often followed by a preposition such as "to" or "on") To fasten or attach (something) with a pin.
  2. (usually in the passive) To cause (a piece) to be in a pin.
  3. To pin down (someone).
  4. To enclose; to confine; to pen; to pound.
  5. To attach (an icon, application, etc.) to another item.
  6. To fix (an array in memory, a security certificate, etc.) so that it cannot be modified.
  7. To cause an analog gauge to reach the stop pin at the high end of the range.
noun
  1. The action of the verb pin in any sense.
  2. A ceremony in which a pin badge is given.
  3. The establishment of the definite quantum state of a particle, or of the occupation number of a system of particles

pinup

noun
  1. A photograph, printed in a magazine or other publication, of a sexually attractive person (often nude or provocatively dressed), and intended to be removed and pinned up on a wall.
  2. The person so depicted.
  3. Figurehead, person who represents an idea, cause etc.

piping

verb
  1. To play (music) on a pipe instrument, such as a bagpipe or a flute.
  2. To shout loudly and at high pitch.
  3. To emit or have a shrill sound like that of a pipe; to whistle.
  4. Of a metal ingot: to become hollow in the process of solidifying.
  5. To convey or transport (something) by means of pipes.
  6. To install or configure with pipes.
  7. To dab moisture away from.
  8. To lead or conduct as if by pipes, especially by wired transmission.
  9. To directly feed (the output of one program) as input to another program, indicated by the pipe character (pipe) at the command line.
  10. To create or decorate with piping (icing).
  11. To order or signal by a note pattern on a boatswain's pipe.
  12. (of a male) To have sexual intercourse with a female.
  13. To see.
noun
  1. The process of an animal just beginning to break out of its egg; precedes hatching.
  2. The sound of musical pipes.
  3. An act of making music or noise with pipes.
  4. A system of pipes that compose a structure; pipework.
  5. An ornamentation on the edges of a garment; a small cord covered with cloth.
  6. Icing extruded from a piping bag.
  7. A piece cut off to be set or planted; a cutting.
  8. Propagation by cuttings
adjective
  1. High-pitched.

pippin

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A seed

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Any of several varieties of eating apple that have a yellow or green skin with patches of red
  2. Any of several roundish or oblate apple varieties
  3. An apple tree raised from a seed (not grafted)

pogo

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A dance associated with the 1970s punk rock movement in which participants jump up and down on the spot in the manner of someone riding a pogo stick.
  2. The act of lifting the front wheel of the bicycle in the air and jumping up and down on the rear wheel while in a stationary position.
verb
  1. To use a pogo stick.
  2. To dance the pogo.
  3. To lift the front wheel of the bicycle in the air and jump up and down on the rear wheel while in a stationary position.
  4. To move rapidly up and down like a pogo stick.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A corndog on a stick.

pogoing

verb
  1. To use a pogo stick.
  2. To dance the pogo.
  3. To lift the front wheel of the bicycle in the air and jump up and down on the rear wheel while in a stationary position.
  4. To move rapidly up and down like a pogo stick.

pong

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A stench, a bad smell.
verb
  1. To stink, to smell bad.
  2. To deliver a line of a play in an arch, suggestive or unnatural way, so as to draw undue attention to it.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A packet sent in reply to a ping, thereby indicating the presence of a host.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A set of three identical tiles.

poop

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Fecal matter, feces.
  2. The sound of a steam engine's whistle; typically low pitch.
verb
  1. To make a short blast on a horn
  2. To break wind.
  3. To defecate.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A set of data or general information, written or spoken, usually concerning machinery or a process.

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To tire, exhaust. Often used with out.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. The stern of a ship.
  2. The poop deck.
verb
  1. To break seawater with the poop of a vessel, especially the poop deck.
  2. To embark a ship over the stern.

Etymology 5

noun
  1. A slothful person.

pooping

verb
  1. To make a short blast on a horn
  2. To break wind.
  3. To defecate.
verb
  1. To tire, exhaust. Often used with out.
verb
  1. To break seawater with the poop of a vessel, especially the poop deck.
  2. To embark a ship over the stern.
noun
  1. The act of a wave (or other vessel) striking the stern of a vessel.

popgun

noun
  1. A toy gun that emits a loud pop by firing a cork from a barrel in which a piston slides, compressing the air and forcing the cork out. The cork is traditionally attached to the toy by a piece of string.
  2. A firearm of unimpressive appearance.

popping

verb
  1. To make a pop, or sharp, quick sound.
  2. To burst (something) with a popping sound.
  3. (with in, out, upon, etc.) To enter, or issue forth, with a quick, sudden movement; to move from place to place suddenly; to dart.
  4. To place (something) (somewhere); to move or position (something) with a short movement.
  5. (often with over, round, along, etc.) To make a short trip or visit.
  6. To stand out; to be distinctive to the senses.
  7. To hit (something or someone).
  8. To shoot (usually somebody) with a firearm.
  9. To ejaculate.
  10. To remove (a data item) from the top of a stack.
  11. To remove a data item from the top of (a stack).
  12. To pawn (something) (to raise money).
  13. To swallow or consume (especially a tablet of a drug, sometimes extended to other small items such as sweets or candy).
  14. To perform (a move or stunt) while riding a board or vehicle.
  15. (of the ears) To undergo equalization of pressure when the Eustachian tubes open.
noun
  1. The act or sound of something that pops.
  2. A funk dance.

pouncing

verb
  1. To sprinkle or rub with pounce powder.
verb
  1. To leap into the air intending to seize someone or something.
  2. To attack suddenly by leaping.
  3. To eagerly seize an opportunity.
  4. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons.
  5. To stamp holes in; to perforate.
noun
  1. The art or practice of transferring a design by means of pounce.
  2. Decorative perforation of cloth.
  3. A sudden leap, as of an animal when it pounces.

punning

verb
  1. To beat; strike with force; to ram; to pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder, to pulverize.
  2. To make or tell a pun; to make a play on words.
noun
  1. The action of the verb to pun.
adjective
  1. That makes or uses a pun.

unpin

verb
  1. To unfasten by removing a pin.
  2. To detach (an icon, application, etc.) from the place where it was previously pinned.
  3. To get out of a pin

unpinning

verb
  1. To unfasten by removing a pin.
  2. To detach (an icon, application, etc.) from the place where it was previously pinned.
  3. To get out of a pin

upon

adverb
  1. Being the target of an action.
preposition
  1. Physically above and in contact with.
  2. Physically directly supported by.
  3. Being followed by another so as to form a series.
  4. At (a prescribed point in time).
  5. On.

upping

verb
  1. To increase or raise.
  2. To promote.
  3. (usually in combination with another verb) To act suddenly.
  4. To ascend; to climb up.
  5. To upload.
noun
  1. The act of increasing something.