Monday, November 17, 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: 1

Maximum Puzzle Score: 213

Number of Answers: 35

Points Needed for Genius: 149

Genius requires between 20 and 28 words. You need at least a 7-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 213 was in the 70th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on November 15, 2025.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 35 possible answers rank it in the 39th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were fewer answers than this was on November 16, 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 November 16, 2025.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 6.2.
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 222
  • loll 207
  • toot 201
  • naan 184
  • nana 184
  • lilt 147
  • till 147
  • tilt 147
  • tint 143
  • nene 142
  • mama 140
  • mamma 140
  • acacia 134
  • acai 134
  • onto 134
  • toon 134
  • onion 132
  • anal 126
  • anon 124
  • olio 121
  • dodo 120
  • tact 118
  • baba 116
  • boob 115
  • booboo 115
  • papa 115
  • lull 114
  • lulu 114
  • poop 114
  • mitt 112
  • mono 112
  • moon 112
  • cocci 111
  • call 110
  • calla 110
  • ratatat 109
  • tart 109
  • tartar 109
  • tutu 109
  • attar 108
  • allay 107
  • ally 107
  • loon 107
  • ammo 106
  • momma 106
  • tattoo 106
  • tatty 106
  • epee 102
  • meme 102
  • peep 102


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 109,563 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,864 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*:

  • curn
  • curring
  • girn
  • girning
  • gunging
  • gunrunning
  • gurging
  • igging
  • incurving
  • inrun
  • iring
  • rinning
  • riving
  • rugging
  • unci
  • uncini
  • vicing
  • vinic
  • vining

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

cringing

verb
  1. To shrink, cower, tense or recoil, as in fear, disgust or embarrassment.
  2. To bow or crouch in servility.
  3. To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort.
noun
  1. Act of one who cringes.

cuing

No Definition Found.

cunning

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.
  2. Skillful, artful.
  3. Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious.
  4. Cute, appealing.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Practical knowledge or experience; aptitude in performance; skill, proficiency; dexterity.
  2. Practical skill employed in a secret or crafty manner; craft; artifice; skillful deceit; art or magic.
  3. The disposition to employ one's skill in an artful manner; craftiness; guile; artifice; skill of being cunning, sly, conniving, or deceitful.
  4. The natural wit or instincts of an animal.
  5. Knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

curing

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To restore to health.
  2. To bring (a disease or its bad effects) to an end.
  3. To cause to be rid of (a defect).
  4. To prepare or alter especially by chemical or physical processing for keeping or use.
  5. To bring about a cure of any kind.
  6. To be undergoing a chemical or physical process for preservation or use.
  7. To preserve (food), typically by salting
  8. To solidify or gel.
  9. To become healed.
  10. To pay heed; to care; to give attention.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The act by which something is cured.

curving

verb
  1. To bend; to crook.
  2. To cause to swerve from a straight course.
  3. To bend or turn gradually from a given direction.
  4. To grade on a curve (bell curve of a normal distribution).
  5. To reject, to turn down romantic advances.
noun
  1. A shape or motion that curves.
adjective
  1. That curves or curve.

gigging

verb
  1. To fish or catch with a gig, or fish spear.
  2. To engage in musical performances.
  3. To make fun of; to make a joke at someone's expense, often condescending.
  4. To impose a demerit for an infraction of a dress or deportment code.
verb
  1. To engender.

ginning

verb
  1. To remove the seeds from cotton with a cotton gin.
  2. To trap something in a gin.
verb
  1. To begin.
noun
  1. The act of removing seeds from cotton with a cotton gin.

giving

verb
  1. (ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.
  2. (ditransitive) To estimate or predict (a duration or probability) for (something).
  3. To yield slightly when a force is applied.
  4. To collapse under pressure or force.
  5. To provide, as, a service or a broadcast.
  6. To lead (onto or into).
  7. To provide a view of.
  8. To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to yield.
  9. To cause; to make; used with the infinitive.
  10. To cause (someone) to have; produce in (someone); effectuate.
  11. To allow or admit by way of supposition; to concede.
  12. To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.
  13. To communicate or announce (advice, tidings, etc.); to pronounce or utter (an opinion, a judgment, a shout, etc.).
  14. To grant power or permission to; to allow.
  15. To devote or apply (oneself).
  16. To become soft or moist.
  17. To shed tears; to weep.
  18. To have a misgiving.
  19. To be going on, to be occurring
noun
  1. The act of bestowing as a gift; a conferring or imparting.
  2. A gift; a benefaction.
  3. The act of softening, breaking, or yielding.
adjective
  1. Having the tendency to give; generous

grin

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A smile in which the lips are parted to reveal the teeth.
verb
  1. To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.
  2. To express by grinning.
  3. To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.
  4. To grin as part of producing a particular facial expression, such as a smile or sneer.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A snare; a gin.

grinning

verb
  1. To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.
  2. To express by grinning.
  3. To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.
  4. To grin as part of producing a particular facial expression, such as a smile or sneer.
noun
  1. The act or expression of one who grins.

gunning

No Definition Found.

icing

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A sweet glaze made primarily of sugar and often flavored, typically used for baked goods; frosting.
  2. A minor violation of ice hockey rules, occurring when a player shoots the puck from his/her side of the red line so that it crosses the goal line on the opponent's side. A team playing short-handed is not penalized for this.
  3. The process of forming a layer of ice on a surface.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To cool with ice, as a beverage.
  2. To become ice; to freeze.
  3. To make icy; to freeze.
  4. To murder.
  5. To cover with icing (frosting made of sugar and milk or white of egg); to frost; as cakes, tarts, etc.
  6. To put out a team for a match.
  7. To shoot the puck the length of the playing surface, causing a stoppage in play called icing.

incur

verb
  1. To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to
  2. To enter or pass into
  3. To fall within a period or scope; to occur; to run into danger

incurring

verb
  1. To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to
  2. To enter or pass into
  3. To fall within a period or scope; to occur; to run into danger

inning

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A period of play in which members of a visiting baseball team attempt to hit a baseball pitched by the opposing home team until three players are called out, followed by a similar attempt by members of the home baseball team against the visiting team's pitching. There are nine or more innings in a regulation baseball game.
  2. A similar period of play.
  3. A player (or team)'s turn at the table to make shots until ended by a miss or a foul.
  4. A chance or opportunity to perform some deed or act.
  5. The gathering of a crop; harvesting.
  6. Lands recovered from the sea.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To house; to lodge.
  2. To take lodging; to lodge.

inuring

verb
  1. To cause someone to become accustomed to something (usually) unpleasant.
  2. To take effect, to be operative.
  3. To commit.

inurn

verb
  1. To place (the remains of a person who has died) in an urn or other container.
  2. To hold or contain (the remains of a person who has died).

inurning

verb
  1. To place (the remains of a person who has died) in an urn or other container.
  2. To hold or contain (the remains of a person who has died).

ricin

noun
  1. An extremely toxic protein extracted from the castor bean.

ricing

verb
  1. To squeeze through a ricer; to mash or make into rice-sized pieces (especially potatoes).
  2. To harvest wild rice (Zizania sp.)
  3. To throw rice at a person (usually at a wedding).
  4. To customize the user interface of a computer system, e.g. a desktop environment.
noun
  1. (soap-making) (Development of) undesirable, hard white granules in soap.

rigging

verb
  1. To fit out with a harness or other equipment.
  2. To equip and fit (a ship) with sails, shrouds, and yards.
  3. To dress or clothe in some costume.
  4. To make or construct something in haste or in a makeshift manner.
  5. To manipulate something dishonestly for personal gain or discriminatory purposes.
  6. To make free with; hence, to steal; to pilfer.
  7. To outfit a model with controls for animation.
verb
  1. To play the wanton; to act in an unbecoming manner; to play tricks.
noun
  1. Dress; tackle; especially , the ropes, chains, etc., that support the masts and spars of a sailing vessel, and serve as purchases for adjusting the sails, etc.
  2. Similar supporting material used for construction work, or in film, theater, etc.

ring

Etymology 1

noun
  1. (physical) A solid object in the shape of a circle.
  2. (physical) A group of objects arranged in a circle.
  3. A piece of food in the shape of a ring.
  4. A place where some sports or exhibitions take place; notably a circular or comparable arena, such as a boxing ring or a circus ring; hence the field of a political contest.
  5. An exclusive group of people, usually involving some unethical or illegal practices.
  6. A group of atoms linked by bonds to form a closed chain in a molecule.
  7. A planar geometrical figure included between two concentric circles.
  8. A diacritical mark in the shape of a hollow circle placed above or under the letter; a kroužek.
  9. An old English measure of corn equal to the coomb or half a quarter.
  10. A hierarchical level of privilege in a computer system, usually at hardware level, used to protect data and functionality (also protection ring).
  11. Either of the pair of clamps used to hold a telescopic sight to a rifle.
  12. The twenty-fifth Lenormand card.
verb
  1. To enclose or surround.
  2. To make an incision around; to girdle.
  3. To attach a ring to, especially for identification.
  4. To surround or fit with a ring, or as if with a ring.
  5. To rise in the air spirally.
  6. To steal and change the identity of (cars) in order to resell them.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The resonant sound of a bell, or a sound resembling it.
  2. A pleasant or correct sound.
  3. A sound or appearance that is characteristic of something.
  4. A telephone call.
  5. Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated.
  6. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.
verb
  1. Of a bell, etc., to produce a resonant sound.
  2. To make (a bell, etc.) produce a resonant sound.
  3. To produce (a sound) by ringing.
  4. To produce the sound of a bell or a similar sound.
  5. Of something spoken or written, to appear to be, to seem, to sound.
  6. To telephone (someone).
  7. To resound, reverberate, echo.
  8. To produce music with bells.
  9. To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. An algebraic structure which consists of a set with two binary operations: an additive operation and a multiplicative operation, such that the set is an abelian group under the additive operation, a monoid under the multiplicative operation, and such that the multiplicative operation is distributive with respect to the additive operation.
  2. An algebraic structure as above, but only required to be a semigroup under the multiplicative operation, that is, there need not be a multiplicative identity element.

ringing

verb
  1. To enclose or surround.
  2. To make an incision around; to girdle.
  3. To attach a ring to, especially for identification.
  4. To surround or fit with a ring, or as if with a ring.
  5. To rise in the air spirally.
  6. To steal and change the identity of (cars) in order to resell them.
verb
  1. Of a bell, etc., to produce a resonant sound.
  2. To make (a bell, etc.) produce a resonant sound.
  3. To produce (a sound) by ringing.
  4. To produce the sound of a bell or a similar sound.
  5. Of something spoken or written, to appear to be, to seem, to sound.
  6. To telephone (someone).
  7. To resound, reverberate, echo.
  8. To produce music with bells.
  9. To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.
noun
  1. The sound of something that rings.
  2. The quality of being resonant.
  3. A technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings.
  4. The theft of cars and illegally changing their identities for resale.
adjective
  1. Loud and clear.
  2. Made forcefully; powerful.

ruin

noun
  1. (sometimes in the plural) The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
  2. The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed.
  3. Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction.
  4. A fall or tumble.
  5. A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow.
  6. Complete financial loss; bankruptcy.
verb
  1. To cause the fiscal ruin of.
  2. To destroy or make something no longer usable.
  3. To cause severe financial loss to; to bankrupt or drive out of business.
  4. To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on something.
  5. To make something less enjoyable or likeable.
  6. To reveal the ending of (a story); to spoil.
  7. To fall into a state of decay.
  8. To seduce or debauch, and thus harm the social standing of.

ruing

verb
  1. To cause to repent of sin or regret some past action.
  2. To cause to feel sorrow or pity.
  3. To repent of or regret (some past action or event); to wish that a past action or event had not taken place.
  4. To feel compassion or pity.
  5. To feel sorrow or regret.

ruining

verb
  1. To cause the fiscal ruin of.
  2. To destroy or make something no longer usable.
  3. To cause severe financial loss to; to bankrupt or drive out of business.
  4. To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on something.
  5. To make something less enjoyable or likeable.
  6. To reveal the ending of (a story); to spoil.
  7. To fall into a state of decay.
  8. To seduce or debauch, and thus harm the social standing of.
noun
  1. The act or process by which something is ruined.

rung

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A crosspiece forming a step of a ladder; a round.
  2. A crosspiece between legs of a chair.
  3. A position in a hierarchy.
  4. A floor timber in a ship.
  5. One of the stakes of a cart; a spar; a heavy staff.
  6. One of the radial handles projecting from the rim of a steering wheel.
  7. One of the pins or trundles of a lantern wheel.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. Of a bell, etc., to produce a resonant sound.
  2. To make (a bell, etc.) produce a resonant sound.
  3. To produce (a sound) by ringing.
  4. To produce the sound of a bell or a similar sound.
  5. Of something spoken or written, to appear to be, to seem, to sound.
  6. To telephone (someone).
  7. To resound, reverberate, echo.
  8. To produce music with bells.
  9. To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.
adjective
  1. Of a pig: having a ring through the nose.

runic

No Definition Found.

running

verb
  1. To move swiftly.
  2. (fluids) To flow.
  3. (of a vessel) To sail before the wind, in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled.
  4. To control or manage, be in charge of.
  5. To be a candidate in an election.
  6. To make run in a race or an election.
  7. To exert continuous activity; to proceed.
  8. To be presented in the media.
  9. To print or broadcast in the media.
  10. To smuggle (illegal goods).
  11. To sort through a large volume of produce in quality control.
  12. To extend or persist, statically or dynamically, through space or time.
  13. To execute or carry out a plan, procedure or program.
  14. To pass or go quickly in thought or conversation.
  15. To become different in a way mentioned (usually to become worse).
  16. To cost a large amount of money.
  17. Of stitches or stitched clothing, to unravel.
  18. To pursue in thought; to carry in contemplation.
  19. To cause to enter; to thrust.
  20. To drive or force; to cause, or permit, to be driven.
  21. To cause to be drawn; to mark out; to indicate; to determine.
  22. To encounter or incur (a danger or risk).
  23. To put at hazard; to venture; to risk.
  24. To tease with sarcasms and ridicule.
  25. To sew (a seam) by passing the needle through material in a continuous line, generally taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time.
  26. To control or have precedence in a card game.
  27. To be in form thus, as a combination of words.
  28. To be popularly known; to be generally received.
  29. To have growth or development.
  30. To tend, as to an effect or consequence; to incline.
  31. To have a legal course; to be attached; to continue in force, effect, or operation; to follow; to go in company.
  32. To encounter or suffer (a particular, usually bad, fate or misfortune).
  33. To strike (the ball) in such a way as to cause it to run along the ground, as when approaching a hole.
  34. To speedrun.
noun
  1. The action of the verb to run.
  2. The activity of running as a form of exercise, as a sport, or for any other reason
  3. That which runs or flows; the quantity of a liquid which flows in a certain time or during a certain operation.
  4. The discharge from an ulcer or other sore.
adjective
  1. Moving or advancing at a run.
  2. Present, current.
  3. Flowing; easy; cursive.
  4. Continuous; ongoing; keeping along step by step.
  5. Having a continuous design or pattern.
  6. Consecutive.
  7. Extending by a slender climbing or trailing stem.
  8. Discharging pus.
  9. (of a nose) Discharging snot or mucus.
adverb
  1. Consecutively; in a row
preposition
  1. Approaching; about; roughly.

ungiving

adjective
  1. Not giving; ungenerous.

unrig

verb
  1. To remove the rigging from (a vessel, etc.).
  2. To disable.
  3. To undress (someone).

unrigging

verb
  1. To remove the rigging from (a vessel, etc.).
  2. To disable.
  3. To undress (someone).

urging

verb
  1. To press; to push; to drive; to impel; to force onward.
  2. To press the mind or will of; to ply with motives, arguments, persuasion, or importunity.
  3. To provoke; to exasperate.
  4. To press hard upon; to follow closely.
  5. To present in an urgent manner; to insist upon.
  6. To treat with forcible means; to take severe or violent measures with.
  7. To press onward or forward.
  8. To be pressing in argument; to insist; to persist.

virgin

noun
  1. A person who has never had sexual intercourse, or sometimes, one who has never engaged in any sexual activity at all.
  2. (early Christian Church) a woman noted for religious piety who has never been married.
  3. One who has never used or experienced a specified thing.
  4. Any of several species of gossamer-winged butterflies of the family Lycaenidae.
  5. A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect.
adjective
  1. (usually not comparable) In a state of virginity; chaste, not having had sexual intercourse.
  2. Of a physical object, untouched.
  3. Not yet cultivated, explored, or exploited by humans or humans of certain civilizations.
  4. Of olive oil, obtained by mechanical means, so that the oil is not altered.
  5. (usually not comparable) Of mixed drinks, not containing alcohol.

nigiri

noun
  1. Regular sushi: a piece of raw fish (or other topping) on top of a small oblong brick of sticky white rice.