Saturday, October 4, 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: 4

Maximum Puzzle Score: 277

Number of Answers: 50

Points Needed for Genius: 194

Genius requires between 24 and 44 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 277 was in the 90th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on October 2, 2025.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 50 possible answers rank it in the 76th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on October 2, 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 October 3, 2025.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 5.8.
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 215
  • loll 203
  • toot 197
  • naan 180
  • nana 180
  • lilt 146
  • till 146
  • tilt 146
  • tint 140
  • mama 139
  • mamma 139
  • nene 139
  • acacia 133
  • acai 133
  • onto 131
  • toon 131
  • onion 128
  • anal 122
  • anon 121
  • dodo 119
  • tact 118
  • olio 117
  • boob 115
  • booboo 115
  • baba 114
  • papa 114
  • poop 114
  • lull 111
  • lulu 111
  • call 109
  • calla 109
  • mitt 108
  • mono 108
  • moon 108
  • cocci 107
  • ratatat 107
  • tart 107
  • tartar 107
  • tutu 107
  • allay 106
  • ally 106
  • attar 106
  • tattoo 106
  • ammo 105
  • loon 105
  • momma 105
  • tatty 105
  • epee 101
  • peep 101
  • roar 100


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 107,631 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,816 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*:

  • aahed
  • achene
  • acidhead
  • ahed
  • cachaca
  • cancha
  • chaine
  • chana
  • chicane
  • chicaned
  • chid
  • chidden
  • chinch
  • chinched
  • chine
  • chined
  • eche
  • eched
  • echidnae
  • echini
  • hade
  • haded
  • haed
  • haen
  • haha
  • hance
  • headend
  • hided
  • hied
  • hinnie
  • hinnied
  • niched

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

ache

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Continued dull pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain.
verb
  1. To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.
  2. To cause someone or something to suffer pain.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Parsley

Etymology 3

noun
  1. The name of the Latin-script letter H.

ached

verb
  1. To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.
  2. To cause someone or something to suffer pain.

ahead

adverb
  1. In or to the front; in advance; onward.
  2. In the direction one is facing or moving.
  3. In or for the future.
  4. At an earlier time.
  5. Having progressed more.

cache

noun
  1. A store of things that may be required in the future, which can be retrieved rapidly, protected or hidden in some way.
  2. A fast temporary storage where recently or frequently used information is stored to avoid having to reload it from a slower storage medium.
  3. (geocaching) A container containing treasure in a global treasure-hunt game.
verb
  1. To place in a cache.

cached

verb
  1. To place in a cache.

chad

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Small pieces of paper punched out from the edges of continuous stationery, or from ballot papers, paper tape, punched cards, etc.
  2. One of these pieces of paper.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. (pickup community) A very handsome, usually tall, man whom women find sexually attractive; at times seen as an alpha male of a group.

chai

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A female gypsy.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Short for masala chai, a beverage made with black teas, steamed milk and sweet spices, based loosely on Indian recipes.

chain

noun
  1. A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
  2. A series of interconnected things.
  3. A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.
  4. A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
  5. A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
  6. A long measuring tape.
  7. A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres, 4 rods, or 100 links.
  8. A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
  9. A sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).
  10. That which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond.
  11. (in the plural) Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
  12. The warp threads of a web.
verb
  1. To fasten something with a chain.
  2. To link multiple items together.
  3. To secure someone with fetters.
  4. To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
  5. To obligate.
  6. To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
  7. To be chained to another data item.
  8. To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
  9. (associated with Acorn Computers) To load and automatically run (a program).

chained

verb
  1. To fasten something with a chain.
  2. To link multiple items together.
  3. To secure someone with fetters.
  4. To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
  5. To obligate.
  6. To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
  7. To be chained to another data item.
  8. To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
  9. (associated with Acorn Computers) To load and automatically run (a program).
adjective
  1. Bound with chains.
  2. (of data items) Linked in a chain.

chance

Etymology 1

noun
  1. An opportunity or possibility.
  2. Random occurrence; luck.
  3. The probability of something happening.
  4. What befalls or happens to a person; their lot or fate.
adjective
  1. Happening by chance, casual.
adverb
  1. Perchance; perhaps.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To happen by chance, to occur.
  2. To befall; to happen to.
  3. To try or risk.
  4. To discover something by chance.
  5. (Belize) To rob, cheat or swindle someone.

chanced

verb
  1. To happen by chance, to occur.
  2. To befall; to happen to.
  3. To try or risk.
  4. To discover something by chance.
  5. (Belize) To rob, cheat or swindle someone.

chia

noun
  1. A Mexican sage grown for its edible seeds, Salvia hispanica.
  2. Salvia columbariae, a sage with similar seeds, native to the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico.

chic

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Good form; style.
  2. A person with (a particular type of) chic.
adjective
  1. Elegant, stylish.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A kind of ritual buffoon or clown in Yucatec Maya culture.

chica

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A Latin-American girl; a Latina.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. An orange-red dyestuff obtained by boiling the leaves of the bignonia.

chichi

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Affectedly trendy; chic and stylish

Etymology 2

noun
  1. (Latin America, chiefly in the plural) A woman's breast.

chide

verb
  1. To admonish in blame; to reproach angrily.
  2. To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily.
  3. To make a clamorous noise; to chafe.

chided

verb
  1. To admonish in blame; to reproach angrily.
  2. To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily.
  3. To make a clamorous noise; to chafe.

chin

Etymology 1

noun
  1. The bottom of a face, (specifically) the typically jutting jawline below the mouth.
  2. Talk.
  3. A lie, a falsehood.
  4. The ability to withstand being punched in the chin without being knocked out.
  5. The lower part of the front of an aircraft, below the nose.
  6. The bottom part of a mobile phone, below the screen.
verb
  1. To talk.
  2. To talk to or with (someone).
  3. To perform a chin-up (exercise in which one lifts one's own weight while hanging from a bar).
  4. To punch or hit (someone)'s chin (part of the body).
  5. To put or hold (a musical instrument) up to one's chin.
  6. To turn on or operate (a device) using one's chin; to select (a particular setting) using one's chin.
  7. To put one's chin on (something).
  8. To indicate or point toward (someone or something) with one's chin.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A chinchilla.

china

noun
  1. The plant Smilax china, a liana of much of eastern Asia.
noun
  1. A plant or flower of the repeat-blooming Chinese rose species Rosa chinensis.
  2. A plant or flower of one of the class of hybrids developed from Rosa chinensis.
  3. Synonym of elderflower rose, Rosa cymosa.
noun
  1. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, native to east Asia.
noun
  1. Chinaware: porcelain tableware.
  2. Cheaper and lower-quality ceramic and ceramic tableware, distinguished from porcelain.
  3. Synonym of cheyney: worsted or woolen stuff.
  4. Tea from China, varieties cured by smoking or opposed to Indian cultivars.
  5. (games) A glazed china marble.
  6. A kind of drum cymbal approximating a Chinese style of cymbal, but usually with Turkish influences.
noun
  1. A small gastropod (Monetaria moneta, syn. Cypraea moneta) common in the Indian Ocean; its shell.
  2. (by extension) Any gastropod of the genus Cypraea; its shell.
  3. (by extension) Any gastropod of the family Cypraeidae; its shell.
noun
  1. A person other than a family member, spouse or lover whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
  2. An associate who provides assistance.
  3. A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.
  4. A person who backs or supports something.
  5. An object or idea that can be used for good.
  6. (used only in the vocative) Used as a form of address when warning someone.
  7. A function or class granted special access to the private and protected members of another class.
  8. A spring-loaded camming device.
  9. A lover; a boyfriend or girlfriend.
  10. A relative, a relation by blood or marriage.
noun
  1. A fine clay, rich in kaolinite, used in ceramics, paper-making, etc.
noun
  1. (usually uncountable) A hard white translucent ceramic, originally made by firing kaolin, quartz, and feldspar at high temperatures but now also inclusive of similar artificial materials; also often such a material as a symbol of the fragility, elegance, etc. traditionally associated with porcelain goods.
  2. (now usually plural) An object made of porcelain, art objects or items of tableware.
  3. (often capitalized) A kind of pigeon with deep brown and off-white feathers.
noun
  1. Small beads made from polished shells, especially white ones, formerly used as money and jewelry by certain Native American peoples.
  2. A string of such beads.
  3. Money.

chinned

verb
  1. To talk.
  2. To talk to or with (someone).
  3. To perform a chin-up (exercise in which one lifts one's own weight while hanging from a bar).
  4. To punch or hit (someone)'s chin (part of the body).
  5. To put or hold (a musical instrument) up to one's chin.
  6. To turn on or operate (a device) using one's chin; to select (a particular setting) using one's chin.
  7. To put one's chin on (something).
  8. To indicate or point toward (someone or something) with one's chin.
adjective
  1. (in combination) Having some specific type of chin or number of chins.

cinch

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A simple saddle girth used in Mexico.
  2. Something that is very easy to do.
  3. A firm hold.
verb
  1. To bring to certain conclusion.
  2. To tighten down.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A variety of auction pitch in which a draw to improve the hand is added, and the five of trumps (called "right Pedro") and the five of the same colour (called "left Pedro", and ranking between the five and the four of trumps) are each worth five. Fifty-one points make a game.
verb
  1. In the game of cinch, to protect (a trick) by playing a higher trump than the five.

cinched

verb
  1. To bring to certain conclusion.
  2. To tighten down.
verb
  1. In the game of cinch, to protect (a trick) by playing a higher trump than the five.

dacha

noun
  1. A Russian villa or summer house in the countryside.

deadhead

noun
  1. A fan of the rock band The Grateful Dead.
noun
  1. A person either admitted to a theatrical or musical performance without charge, or paid to attend.
  2. An employee of a transportation company, especially a pilot, traveling as a passenger for logistical reasons, for example to return home or travel to their next assignment.
  3. Anyone traveling for free.
  4. A train or truck moved between cities with no passengers or freight, in order to make it available for service.
  5. A person staying at a lodging, such as a hotel or boarding house, without paying rent; freeloader.
  6. A stupid or boring person; dullard.
  7. A tree or tree branch fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable body of water, partially submerged or rising nearly the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk; snag.
  8. Driftwood.
  9. A zombie.
verb
  1. To admit to a performance without charge.
  2. To travel as a deadhead, or non-paying passenger.
  3. To drive an empty vehicle.
  4. To send (a person or message) for free.
  5. To remove spent or dead blossoms from a plant.

deadheaded

verb
  1. To admit to a performance without charge.
  2. To travel as a deadhead, or non-paying passenger.
  3. To drive an empty vehicle.
  4. To send (a person or message) for free.
  5. To remove spent or dead blossoms from a plant.

each

noun
  1. (operations) An individual item: the least quantitative unit in a grouping.
adverb
  1. For one; apiece; per.
pronoun
  1. Every one; every thing.

echidna

noun
  1. Any of the species of small spined monotremes in family Tachyglossidae, the four extant species of which are found in Australia and southern New Guinea.

echinacea

noun
  1. Any of several plants, of genus Echinacea, having pinkish-purple flowers.
  2. A herbal medicine extracted from the roots and seeds of such plants.

enchain

verb
  1. To restrain with, or as if with, chains.
  2. To link together.

enchained

verb
  1. To restrain with, or as if with, chains.
  2. To link together.

enhance

verb
  1. To lift, raise up.
  2. To augment or make something greater.
  3. To improve something by adding features.
  4. To be raised up; to grow larger.
  5. (radiology) To take up contrast agent (for an organ, tissue, or lesion).

enhanced

verb
  1. To lift, raise up.
  2. To augment or make something greater.
  3. To improve something by adding features.
  4. To be raised up; to grow larger.
  5. (radiology) To take up contrast agent (for an organ, tissue, or lesion).
adjective
  1. In a version or form that has been improved or made better than some other standard form.
  2. Raised up, amplified.

hacienda

noun
  1. A large homestead in a ranch or estate usually in places where Colonial Spanish culture has had architectural influence.

hand

noun
  1. The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
  2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
  3. In linear measurement:
  4. A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
  5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
  6. An agent; a servant, or manual laborer, especially in compounds; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful.
  7. An instance of helping.
  8. Handwriting; style of penmanship.
  9. A person's autograph or signature.
  10. Personal possession; ownership.
  11. (usually in the plural, hands) Management, domain, control.
  12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
  13. Applause.
  14. A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
  15. The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
  16. A whole rhizome of ginger.
  17. The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
  18. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
  19. Agency in transmission from one person to another.
  20. Rate; price.
verb
  1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
  2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
  3. To manage.
  4. To seize; to lay hands on.
  5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
  6. (said of a sail) To furl.
  7. To cooperate.

handed

verb
  1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
  2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
  3. To manage.
  4. To seize; to lay hands on.
  5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
  6. (said of a sail) To furl.
  7. To cooperate.
adjective
  1. (in combination) Having a certain kind or number of hands.
  2. (in combination) Having a peculiar or characteristic hand or way of treating others.
  3. With hands joined; hand in hand.

head

Etymology 1

noun
  1. The part of the body of an animal or human which contains the brain, mouth and main sense organs.
  2. The topmost, foremost, or leading part.
  3. (social, metonymy) A leader or expert.
  4. A significant or important part.
  5. Headway; progress.
  6. Topic; subject.
  7. Denouement; crisis.
  8. (fluid dynamics) Pressure and energy.
  9. Fellatio or cunnilingus; oral sex.
  10. The glans penis.
  11. A heavy or habitual user of illicit drugs.
  12. Power; armed force.
verb
  1. To be in command of. (See also head up.)
  2. To come at the beginning of; to commence.
  3. To strike with the head; as in soccer, to head the ball
  4. To move in a specified direction.
  5. To remove the head from a fish.
  6. To originate; to spring; to have its course, as a river.
  7. To form a head.
  8. To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head.
  9. To cut off the top of; to lop off.
  10. To behead; to decapitate.
  11. To go in front of.
  12. To get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose.
  13. (by extension) To check or restrain.
  14. To set on the head.
adjective
  1. Of, relating to, or intended for the head.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Foremost in rank or importance.
  2. Placed at the top or the front.
  3. Coming from in front.

headache

noun
  1. A pain or ache in the head.
  2. A nuisance or unpleasant problem.

headed

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Of a sheet of paper: having the sender's name, address, etc. pre-printed at the top.
  2. (in combination) Having a head with specified characteristics.
  3. (in combination) Heading in a certain direction.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To be in command of. (See also head up.)
  2. To come at the beginning of; to commence.
  3. To strike with the head; as in soccer, to head the ball
  4. To move in a specified direction.
  5. To remove the head from a fish.
  6. To originate; to spring; to have its course, as a river.
  7. To form a head.
  8. To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head.
  9. To cut off the top of; to lop off.
  10. To behead; to decapitate.
  11. To go in front of.
  12. To get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose.
  13. (by extension) To check or restrain.
  14. To set on the head.

heed

noun
  1. Careful attention.
verb
  1. To guard, protect.
  2. To mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe.
  3. To pay attention, care.

heeded

verb
  1. To guard, protect.
  2. To mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe.
  3. To pay attention, care.

heinie

noun
  1. The buttocks.

hence

adverb
  1. From here, from this place, away
  2. From the living or from this world
  3. (of a length of time) in the future from now
  4. As a result; therefore, for this reason

henna

noun
  1. A shrub, Lawsonia inermis, having fragrant reddish flowers
  2. A reddish plant substance, prepared from the dried leaves of this plant, used for temporary tattoos and hair coloring. Hair colorings range from bright red to earth brown to near black.
  3. A rich reddish-brown colour.
verb
  1. To dye or tattoo with henna.
adjective
  1. Of a rich reddish-brown colour.

hennaed

verb
  1. To dye or tattoo with henna.
adjective
  1. Dyed with henna

hidden

adjective
  1. Located or positioned out of sight; not visually apparent.
  2. Obscure.
verb
  1. To put (something) in a place where it will be harder to discover or out of sight.
  2. To put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find or out of sight.

hide

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To put (something) in a place where it will be harder to discover or out of sight.
  2. To put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find or out of sight.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The skin of an animal.
  2. The human skin.
  3. (usually United States) One's own life or personal safety, especially when in peril.
  4. (mainly British) A covered structure from which hunters, birdwatchers, etc can observe animals without scaring them.
  5. A secret room for hiding oneself or valuables; a hideaway.
  6. A covered structure to which a pet animal can retreat, as is recommended for snakes.
verb
  1. To beat with a whip made from hide.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A unit of land and tax assessment of varying size, originally as intended to support one household with dependents.

hind

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Located at the rear (most often said of animals' body parts).

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A female deer, especially a red deer at least two years old.
  2. A spotted food fish of the genus Epinephelus.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A servant, especially an agricultural labourer.

inch

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot, or exactly 2.54 centimetres.
  2. The amount of water which would cover a surface to the depth of an inch, used as a measurement of rainfall.
  3. The amount of an alcoholic beverage which would fill a glass or bottle to the depth of an inch.
  4. A very short distance.
verb
  1. (followed by a preposition) To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).
  2. To drive by inches, or small degrees.
  3. To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A small island

inched

verb
  1. (followed by a preposition) To advance very slowly, or by a small amount (in a particular direction).
  2. To drive by inches, or small degrees.
  3. To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.
adjective
  1. (in combination) Being a certain number of inches in length.

niche

noun
  1. A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. Hence, any similar position, literal or figurative.
  2. A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
  3. (by extension) Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.
  4. An arrow woven into a prayer rug pointing in the direction of qibla.
verb
  1. To place in a niche.
  2. To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market.
adjective
  1. Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal.