Saturday, September 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: 3

Maximum Puzzle Score: 220

Number of Answers: 41

Points Needed for Genius: 154

Genius requires between 20 and 36 words. You need at least a 7-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangrams, you need 89% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangrams, you only need 62% 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 220 was in the 72nd percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on September 11, 2025.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 41 possible answers rank it in the 54th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on September 11, 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 September 9, 2025.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 5.6.
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 212
  • loll 203
  • toot 195
  • naan 179
  • nana 179
  • lilt 144
  • till 144
  • tilt 144
  • nene 139
  • tint 138
  • mama 137
  • mamma 137
  • acacia 133
  • acai 133
  • onto 129
  • toon 129
  • onion 125
  • anal 121
  • anon 121
  • tact 117
  • dodo 116
  • olio 116
  • boob 115
  • booboo 115
  • baba 114
  • papa 113
  • poop 112
  • lull 111
  • lulu 111
  • call 109
  • calla 109
  • mitt 108
  • mono 107
  • moon 107
  • ratatat 107
  • tart 107
  • tartar 107
  • tutu 107
  • attar 106
  • cocci 106
  • allay 105
  • ally 105
  • tattoo 105
  • tatty 105
  • ammo 104
  • loon 104
  • momma 104
  • epee 100
  • peep 100
  • cancan 99


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 106,729 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,781 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*:

  • abaca
  • abba
  • aboon
  • anabatic
  • antitobacco
  • babbitt
  • baboo
  • bacca
  • banco
  • bani
  • banian
  • batata
  • batt
  • bibb
  • binit
  • bint
  • biont
  • biontic
  • biotitic
  • bitt
  • bobo
  • bocaccio
  • boccia
  • bonaci
  • boniato
  • bonita
  • boocoo
  • bota
  • botanica
  • bott
  • cabob
  • cannabic
  • cannabin
  • catboat
  • cobb
  • cobia
  • niobic
  • nonantibiotic
  • nontobacco
  • obconic
  • obia
  • titbit

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

abaci

No Definition Found.

abbot

noun
  1. The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
  2. The pastor and/or administrator of an order, including minor and major orders starting with the minor order of porter.
  3. A layman who received the abbey's revenues, after the closing of the monasteries.
  4. (British slang) A brothel-owner's husband or lover.
  5. (British slang) A ponce; a man employed by a prostitute to find clients, and who may also act as a bodyguard or equivalent to a bouncer.

abiotic

noun
  1. Any such material
adjective
  1. Nonliving, inanimate, characterised by the absence of life; of inorganic matter.
  2. Tending to inhibit or destroy life; antibiotic; incompatible with life.

anabiotic

No Definition Found.

antibiotic

noun
  1. Any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms, generally transported by the lymphatic system.
adjective
  1. (pharmaceutical effect) Of or relating to antibiotics.
  2. Of or relating to the theory that extraterrestrial life does not exist.

baba

noun
  1. A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
  2. (esp. among people of East European ancestry) A grandmother.
  3. An old woman, especially a traditional old woman from an eastern European culture.
  4. (esp. among people of Indian ancestry) A father.
  5. (Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism) A holy man, a spiritual leader.
  6. A baby, child.
  7. In baby talk, often used for a variety of words beginning with b, such as bottle or blanket.

baboon

noun
  1. An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks.
  2. A foolish or boorish person.

bacon

noun
  1. Cured meat from the sides, belly or back of a pig.
  2. Thin slices of the above in long strips.
  3. The police or spies.
  4. Road rash.
  5. A saucisse.

bait

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
  2. Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
  3. Anything which allures; something used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something
  4. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
verb
  1. To attract with bait; to entice.
  2. To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.
  2. To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
  3. To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
  4. (of a horse or other animal) To take food, especially during a journey.
  5. (of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey.

Etymology 4

adjective
  1. Obvious; blatant.
  2. Well-known; famous; renowned.

banana

noun
  1. An elongated curved tropical fruit that grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin.
  2. The tropical tree-like plant which bears clusters of bananas. The plant, usually of the genus Musa but sometimes also including plants from Ensete, has large, elongated leaves and is related to the plantain.
  3. A yellow colour, like that of a banana's skin.
  4. (mildly) A person of Asian descent, especially a Chinese American, who has assimilated into Western culture or married a Caucasian (from the "yellow" outside and "white" inside). Compare coconut or Oreo.
  5. A banana equivalent dose.
  6. A catamorphism (from the use of banana brackets in the notation).
  7. The penis.
  8. A banana kick.
adjective
  1. Curved like a banana, especially of a ball in flight.

banc

No Definition Found.

baobab

noun
  1. A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits.

baton

noun
  1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes
  2. The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
  3. An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
  4. A short stout club used primarily by policemen; a truncheon (UK).
  5. An abatement in coats of arms to denote illegitimacy. (Also spelled batune, baston).
  6. A riband with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, as shown on a coat of arms.
  7. A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.
verb
  1. To strike with a baton.

bionic

adjective
  1. Related to bionics.
  2. Of a biological organism, having been enhanced by electronic or mechanical parts; cyborg.
  3. Superhuman

biota

noun
  1. The living organisms of a region.
  2. Platycladus orientalis (syn. Biota orientalis, Oriental arborvitae).

biotic

adjective
  1. Of, pertaining to, or produced by life or living organisms

biotin

noun
  1. A sulfur-containing member of the vitamin B complex, 5-[(3aS,4S,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl]pentanoic acid, found in liver, egg yolk, milk and yeast, essential to the activity of multiple enzyme systems.

boat

noun
  1. A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.
  2. A full house.
  3. A vehicle, utensil, or dish somewhat resembling a boat in shape.
  4. One of two possible conformations of cyclohexane rings (the other being chair), shaped roughly like a boat.
  5. The refugee boats arriving in Australian waters, and by extension, refugees generally.
verb
  1. To travel by boat.
  2. To transport in a boat.
  3. To place in a boat.

bobbin

noun
  1. A spool or cylinder around which wire is coiled.
  2. In a sewing machine, the small spool that holds the lower thread.
  3. The little rounded piece of wood at the end of a latch string, which is pulled to raise the latch.
  4. (haberdashery) A fine cord or narrow braid.

bobcat

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A North American wild cat, Lynx rufus, having tufted ears and a short tail.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A multi-purpose construction vehicle, akin to a smaller version of a front-end loader or a backhoe (backhoe loader), with a one-man caged control cabin

bocci

noun
  1. A game, similar to bowls or pétanque, played on a long, narrow, dirt-covered court
  2. One of the eight balls that the player throws in a game of bocce.

bonbon

noun
  1. A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy.
  2. A small, spherical savory snack or canapé.
  3. A Christmas cracker.

bonito

noun
  1. Any of various marine fish of the genus Sarda, that are related to and resemble the tuna.
  2. A large tropical fish, the skipjack tuna, allied to the tunny, Katsuwonus pelamis.
  3. The medregal (Seriola fasciata), an edible fish of the southern of the United States and the West Indies.
  4. The cobia or crab eater (Rachycentron canadum), an edible fish of warm waters globally.

bonobo

noun
  1. The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river.

boob

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Idiot, fool.
verb
  1. To behave stupidly; to act like a boob.
  2. To make a mistake
adjective
  1. Idiotic, foolish.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A breast, especially that of an adult or adolescent human female.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A prison; jail.

booboo

noun
  1. A mistake or error.
  2. (by or to young children) A minor injury, such as a cut or a bruise.
  3. (by or to young children) Feces.

boon

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A prayer; petition.
  2. That which is asked or granted as a benefit or favor; a gift or benefaction.
  3. A good thing; a blessing or benefit; a thing to be thankful for.
  4. An unpaid service due by a tenant to his lord.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Good; prosperous.
  2. Kind; bountiful; benign.
  3. (Now only in boon companion) gay; merry; jovial; convivial.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. The woody portion of flax, separated from the fiber as refuse matter by retting, braking, and scutching.

boot

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg.
  2. A blow with the foot; a kick.
  3. A flexible cover of rubber or plastic, which may be preformed to a particular shape and used to protect a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, dirt, moisture, etc.
  4. (usually preceded by definite article) A torture device used on the feet or legs, such as a Spanish boot.
  5. A parking enforcement device used to immobilize a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp.
  6. A rubber bladder on the leading edge of an aircraft’s wing, which is inflated periodically to remove ice buildup. A deicing boot.
  7. A place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low outside place before and behind the body of the coach.
  8. A place for baggage at either end of an old-fashioned stagecoach.
  9. (police) A recently arrived recruit; a rookie.
  10. The luggage storage compartment of a sedan or saloon car.
  11. The act or process of removing or firing someone (give someone the boot).
  12. Unattractive person, ugly woman (usually as "old boot")
  13. A hard plastic case for a long firearm, typically moulded to the shape of the gun and intended for use in a vehicle.
  14. A bobbled ball.
  15. The inflated flag leaf sheath of a wheat plant.
verb
  1. To kick.
  2. To put boots on, especially for riding.
  3. To apply corporal punishment (compare slippering).
  4. To forcibly eject.
  5. To disconnect forcibly; to eject from an online service, conversation, etc.
  6. To vomit.
  7. (criminal slang) To shoot, to kill by gunfire.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Remedy, amends.
  2. Profit, plunder.
  3. That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; compensation; recompense.
  4. Profit; gain; advantage; use.
  5. Repair work; the act of fixing structures or buildings.
  6. A medicinal cure or remedy.
verb
  1. To avail, benefit, profit.
  2. To benefit, to enrich; to give in addition.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. The act or process of bootstrapping; the starting or re-starting of a computing device.
verb
  1. To bootstrap; to start a system, e.g. a computer, by invoking its boot process or bootstrap.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. A bootleg recording.

botanic

No Definition Found.

cabana

noun
  1. A cabin or hut for relaxing.
  2. A shelter on a beach or at a swimming pool.

cabin

noun
  1. A small dwelling characteristic of the frontier, especially when built from logs with simple tools and not constructed by professional builders, but by those who meant to live in it.
  2. A chalet or lodge, especially one that can hold large groups of people.
  3. A private room on a ship.
  4. The interior of a boat, enclosed to create a small room, particularly for sleeping.
  5. The passenger area of an airplane.
  6. (travel) The section of a passenger plane having the same class of service.
  7. A signal box.
  8. A small room; an enclosed place.
  9. (Indian English) A private office; particularly of a doctor, businessman, lawyer, or other professional.
verb
  1. To place in a cabin or other small space.
  2. (by extension) To limit the scope of.
  3. To live in, or as if in, a cabin; to lodge.

ciabatta

noun
  1. A broad, flat, white Italian bread.

nabob

noun
  1. An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
  2. (by extension) Someone of great wealth or importance.
  3. (by extension) A person with a grandiose style or manner.

nanobot

noun
  1. A very small autonomous robot, typically the size of a biological cell, designed to work alone or in very large numbers to achieve some task.

obit

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Death of a person.
  2. A mass or other service held for the soul of a dead person.
  3. A record of a person's death.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. An obituary.

obtain

verb
  1. To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
  2. To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
  3. To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
  4. To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
  5. To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.

taboo

noun
  1. An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
  2. (in Polynesia) Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred.
verb
  1. To mark as taboo.
  2. To ban.
  3. To avoid.
adjective
  1. Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.
  2. Culturally forbidden.

tibia

noun
  1. The inner and usually the larger of the two bones of the leg or hind limb below the knee, the shinbone
  2. The second segment from the end of an insect's leg, between the femur and tarsus.
  3. The third segment from the end of an arachnid's leg, between the patella and metatarsus.
  4. A musical instrument of the flute kind, originally made of the leg bone of an animal.

tobacco

noun
  1. Any plant of the genus Nicotiana.
  2. Leaves of Nicotiana tabacum and some other species cultivated and harvested to make cigarettes, cigars, snuff, for smoking in pipes or for chewing.
  3. A variety of tobacco.
verb
  1. To indulge in tobacco; to smoke.
  2. To treat with tobacco.

boba

noun
  1. Short for boba tea.
noun
  1. A small edible ball made primarily from tapioca starch; used in bubble tea.

noob

noun
  1. (often pejorative) A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things.