Sunday, November 30, 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: 234

Number of Answers: 40

Points Needed for Genius: 164

Genius requires between 20 and 35 words. You need at least an 8-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangrams, you need 88% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangrams, you only need 62% of the remaining points to reach genius.

Other days with this pangram:

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 234 was in the 77th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on November 29, 2025.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 40 possible answers rank it in the 51st percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on November 29, 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 an 8-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on November 27, 2025.

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 225
  • loll 208
  • toot 202
  • naan 185
  • nana 185
  • lilt 148
  • till 148
  • tilt 148
  • nene 144
  • tint 144
  • mama 141
  • mamma 141
  • onion 135
  • onto 135
  • toon 135
  • acacia 134
  • acai 134
  • anal 126
  • anon 126
  • olio 121
  • dodo 120
  • tact 118
  • baba 116
  • boob 116
  • booboo 116
  • papa 116
  • poop 115
  • lull 114
  • lulu 114
  • cocci 112
  • mitt 112
  • mono 112
  • moon 112
  • call 110
  • calla 110
  • ratatat 109
  • tart 109
  • tartar 109
  • tutu 109
  • attar 108
  • loon 108
  • allay 107
  • ally 107
  • ammo 107
  • momma 107
  • tattoo 106
  • tatty 106
  • epee 103
  • peep 103
  • roar 103


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 110,202 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,868 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*:

  • chico
  • choc
  • chon
  • chough
  • cinchonic
  • cion
  • coccic
  • cochin
  • coco
  • cogging
  • cogon
  • cohog
  • coign
  • coigning
  • concho
  • congii
  • congo
  • congou
  • coni
  • conin
  • coning
  • conn
  • cooch
  • coocoo
  • coon
  • gogo
  • gonch
  • gonion
  • gonococci
  • hogg
  • honchoing
  • hong
  • hongi
  • hongiing
  • incog
  • inconnu
  • ingoing
  • inion
  • ninon
  • nogg
  • nogging
  • nonionic
  • nooning
  • ohing
  • oohing
  • ouching
  • unco

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

chignon

noun
  1. A roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun.
  2. A temporary swelling on a neonate's head after a ventouse-assisted delivery.

chino

noun
  1. A coarse cotton fabric commonly used to make trousers and uniforms.

cocci

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Any approximately spherical bacterium.
  2. One of the carpels or seed-vessels of a dry fruit.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Coccidioidomycosis

cocoon

noun
  1. The silky protective case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, the pupa.
  2. Any similar protective case, whether real or metaphorical.
verb
  1. To envelop in a protective case
  2. To withdraw into such a case.

cocooning

verb
  1. To envelop in a protective case
  2. To withdraw into such a case.
noun
  1. The formation of a cocoon.

coho

noun
  1. An anadromus and semelparous salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, found in the coastal regions of the northern Pacific Ocean, used as a symbol by several Native American tribes.

coin

noun
  1. (money) A piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a disc, but sometimes polygonal, or with a hole in the middle.
  2. A token used in a special establishment like a casino.
  3. That which serves for payment or recompense.
  4. Money in general, not limited to coins.
  5. One of the suits of minor arcana in tarot, or a card of that suit.
  6. A corner or external angle.
  7. A small circular slice of food.
  8. A cryptocurrency.
verb
  1. To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass of metal.
  2. (by extension) To make or fabricate.
  3. To acquire rapidly, as money; to make.

coining

verb
  1. To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass of metal.
  2. (by extension) To make or fabricate.
  3. To acquire rapidly, as money; to make.
noun
  1. A form of alternative medicine from Southeast Asia where a coin is rubbed vigorously on a patient's oiled skin.
  2. A created word or phrase.

conch

noun
  1. A marine gastropod of the family Strombidae which lives in its own spiral shell.
  2. The shell of this sea animal.
  3. A musical instrument made from a large spiral seashell, somewhat like a trumpet.
  4. The semidome of an apse, or the apse itself.
verb
  1. To refine the flavour and texture of chocolate by warming and grinding, either in a traditional concher, or between rollers.
  2. To play a conch seashell as a musical instrument, by blowing through a hole made close to the origin of the spiral.
noun
  1. A machine (rather like a rotating pestle and mortar) used to refine the flavour and texture of chocolate by warming and grinding.
  2. A person who operates such a machine.

conic

noun
  1. A conic section.
adjective
  1. Of or relating to a cone or cones.
  2. Shaped like a cone.
  3. Describing a map projection in which meridians are mapped to equally spaced lines radiating out from the apex and parallels of latitude are mapped to circular arcs centred on the apex.

conning

verb
  1. To study or examine carefully, especially in order to gain knowledge of; to learn, or learn by heart.
  2. To know, understand, acknowledge.
verb
  1. To trick or defraud, usually for personal gain.
verb
  1. To direct a ship; to superintend the steering of (a vessel); to watch the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to steer (especially through a channel, etc, rather than steer a compass direction).
noun
  1. Reckoning

cooing

verb
  1. To make a soft murmuring sound, as a pigeon.
  2. To speak in an admiring fashion, to be enthusiastic about.
noun
  1. A coo; a cooing sound.

couch

noun
  1. Couch grass, a species of persistent grass, Elymus repens, usually considered a weed.

couching

noun
  1. The act of one who couches.

cough

noun
  1. A sudden, usually noisy expulsion of air from the lungs, often involuntary.
  2. A condition that causes one to cough; a tendency to cough.
  3. Used to focus attention on a following utterance, often a euphemism or an attribution of blame
verb
  1. To push air from the lungs in a quick, noisy explosion.
  2. (sometimes followed by "up") To force something out of the throat or lungs by coughing.
  3. To make a noise like a cough.

coughing

verb
  1. To push air from the lungs in a quick, noisy explosion.
  2. (sometimes followed by "up") To force something out of the throat or lungs by coughing.
  3. To make a noise like a cough.
noun
  1. A cough; the act of coughing.

gnocchi

noun
  1. Italian pasta-like dumplings made of potato or semolina.

going

verb
  1. To move:
  2. (chiefly of a machine) To work or function (properly); to move or perform (as required).
  3. To start; to begin (an action or process).
  4. To take a turn, especially in a game.
  5. To attend.
  6. To proceed:
  7. To follow or travel along (a path):
  8. To extend (from one point in time or space to another).
  9. To lead (to a place); to give access to.
  10. To become. (The adjective that follows usually describes a negative state.)
  11. To assume the obligation or function of; to be, to serve as.
  12. To continuously or habitually be in a state.
  13. To come to (a certain condition or state).
  14. To change (from one value to another) in the meaning of wend.
  15. To turn out, to result; to come to (a certain result).
  16. To tend (toward a result).
  17. To contribute to a (specified) end product or result.
  18. To pass, to be used up:
  19. To die.
  20. To be discarded.
  21. To be lost or out:
  22. To break down or apart:
  23. To be sold.
  24. To be given, especially to be assigned or allotted.
  25. To survive or get by; to last or persist for a stated length of time.
  26. To have a certain record.
  27. To be authoritative, accepted, or valid:
  28. To say (something), to make a sound:
  29. To be expressed or composed (a certain way).
  30. To resort (to).
  31. To apply or subject oneself to:
  32. To fit (in a place, or together with something):
  33. To date.
  34. To attack:
  35. To be in general; to be usually.
  36. To take (a particular part or share); to participate in to the extent of.
  37. To yield or weigh.
  38. To offer, bid or bet an amount; to pay.
  39. To enjoy. (Compare go for.)
  40. To urinate or defecate.
noun
  1. A departure.
  2. The suitability of ground for riding, walking etc.
  3. Progress.
  4. Conditions for advancing in any way.
  5. Pregnancy; gestation; childbearing
  6. (in the plural) Course of life; behaviour; doings; ways.
  7. (in the phrase "the going of") The whereabouts (of something).
adjective
  1. Likely to continue; viable.
  2. Current, prevailing.
  3. (especially after a noun phrase with a superlative) Available.

gong

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A percussion instrument consisting of a metal disk that emits a sonorous sound when struck with a soft hammer.
  2. A medal or award, particularly Knight Bachelor.
verb
  1. To make the sound of a gong; to ring a gong.
  2. To send a signal to, using a gong or similar device.
  3. To give an award or medal to.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.
  2. The contents of an outhouse pit: shit.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A kind of cultivation energy, more powerful than qi.
  2. An advanced practice that cultivates such energy.

gonging

verb
  1. To make the sound of a gong; to ring a gong.
  2. To send a signal to, using a gong or similar device.
  3. To give an award or medal to.
noun
  1. The sounding of a gong.

goon

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A thug; a usually muscular henchman with little intelligence (also known as a 'hired goon').
  2. A fool; someone considered silly, stupid, awkward, or outlandish.
  3. An enforcer or fighter.
  4. (WWII, PoW slang) A German guard in a prisoner-of-war camp.
  5. A member of the comedy web site Something Awful.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A wine flagon or cask.
  2. Cheap or inferior cask wine.

gouging

verb
  1. To make a groove, hole, or mark in by scooping with or as if with a gouge.
  2. To cheat or impose upon; in particular, to charge an unfairly or unreasonably high price.
  3. To dig or scoop (something) out with or as if with a gouge; in particular, to use a thumb to push or try to push the eye (of a person) out of its socket.
  4. To use a gouge.
noun
  1. A mark produced by gouging.

hiccough

noun
  1. A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
  2. (by extension) Any spasm or sudden change.
  3. A minor setback.
verb
  1. To produce a hiccup; have the hiccups.
  2. To say with a hiccup.
  3. To produce an abortive sound like a hiccup.

hiccoughing

verb
  1. To produce a hiccup; have the hiccups.
  2. To say with a hiccup.
  3. To produce an abortive sound like a hiccup.

hogging

verb
  1. To greedily take more than one's share, to take precedence at the expense of another or others.
  2. To clip the mane of a horse, making it short and bristly.
  3. To scrub with a hog, or scrubbing broom.
  4. To cause the keel of a ship to arch upwards (the opposite of sag).
verb
  1. To process (bark, etc.) into hog fuel.
noun
  1. The targeting by men of overweight or obese women for sexual encounters, not due to sexual attraction but for amusement, or to take advantage of low self-esteem.
  2. Taking up too much of something so others cannot use it.
adjective
  1. Drooping at the ends; arching; in distinction from sagging.

honcho

noun
  1. Boss, leader
verb
  1. To lead or manage.

honing

verb
  1. To sharpen with a hone; to whet.
  2. To use a hone to produce a precision bore.
  3. To refine or master (a skill).
  4. To make more acute, intense, or effective.
verb
  1. To grumble.
  2. To pine, lament, or long.
noun
  1. The process by which something is honed.

hooch

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Alcoholic liquor, especially inferior or illicit whisky.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A thatched hut, CHU, or any simple dwelling.

icon

noun
  1. An image, symbol, picture, or other representation usually as an object of religious devotion.
  2. (especially Eastern Christianity) A type of religious painting portraying a saint or scene from Scripture, often done on wooden panels.
  3. (by extension) A person or thing that is the best example of a certain profession or some doing.
  4. A small picture that represents something (such as an icon on a computer screen which when clicked performs some function.)
  5. A word, character, or sign whose form reflects and is determined by the referent; onomatopoeic words are necessarily all icons.

iconic

adjective
  1. Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an icon.
  2. Famously and distinctively representative of its type.
  3. Representing something; symbolic.

ionic

adjective
  1. Of, relating to, or containing ions

noggin

noun
  1. A small mug, cup or ladle.
  2. (obsolete outside dialectal) A small measure of spirits equivalent to a gill.
  3. The head.
  4. A signalling molecule involved in embryo development, producing large heads at high concentrations.
noun
  1. A horizontal beam used in the construction of a building, especially to strengthen upright posts.
  2. Rough brick masonry used to fill open spaces.

nonunion

noun
  1. Lack of union; failure to become united.
  2. The failure of a broken bone to heal
adjective
  1. Not part of a labor union; not unionized.

noon

Etymology 1

noun
  1. The ninth hour of the day counted from sunrise; around three o'clock in the afternoon.
  2. Time of day when the sun is in its zenith; twelve o'clock in the day, midday.
  3. The corresponding time in the middle of the night; midnight.
  4. The highest point; culmination.
verb
  1. To relax or sleep around midday

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The letter Ù† in the Arabic script.

noun

noun
  1. (grammar, narrow sense) A word that can be used to refer to a person, animal, place, thing, phenomenon, substance, quality, or idea; one of the basic parts of speech in many languages, including English.
  2. (grammar, now rare, broad sense) Either a word that can be used to refer to a person, animal, place, thing, phenomenon, substance, quality or idea, or a word that modifies or describes a previous word or its referent; a substantive or adjective, sometimes also including other parts of speech such as numeral or pronoun.
verb
  1. To convert a word to a noun.

nuncio

noun
  1. The ecclesiastic title of a permanent diplomatic representative of the Roman Catholic Church to a sovereign state or international organization, who is accorded a rank equivalent to an accredited ambassador, and may also be given additional privileges including recognition as Dean in a country's diplomatic corps.
  2. (by extension) One who bears a message; a messenger.
  3. Any member of any Sejm of the Kingdom of Poland, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Galicia (of the Austrian Partition), Duchy of Warsaw, Congress Poland, or Grand Duchy of Posen.

ongoing

verb
  1. To be ongoing (occurring, happening); to last, proceed or continue.
noun
  1. Something that is going on; a happening.
adjective
  1. Continuing, permanent, lasting.
  2. Presently or currently happening; being in progress.

onion

noun
  1. A monocotyledonous plant (Allium cepa), allied to garlic, used as vegetable and spice.
  2. The bulb of such a plant.
  3. The genus as a whole.
  4. A ball.
  5. A person from Bermuda or of Bermudian descent.

ouch

Etymology 1

interjection
  1. An expression of one's own physical pain.
  2. An expression in sympathy at another's pain.
  3. A reply to an insult seen as savage (frequently one that is tongue-in-cheek or joking).
  4. An expression of disappointment.
  5. Expressing surprise at the high price of something.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A brooch or clasp for fastening a piece of clothing together, especially when valuable or set with jewels.

union

noun
  1. The act of uniting or joining two or more things into one.
  2. The state of being united or joined; a state of unity or harmony.
  3. That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a consolidated body; a league.
  4. A trade union; a workers' union.
  5. An association of students at a university for social and/or political purposes; also in some cases a debating body.
  6. A joint or other connection uniting parts of machinery, such as pipes.
  7. The set containing all of the elements of two or more sets.
  8. The act or state of marriage.
  9. Sexual intercourse.
  10. A data structure that can store any of various types of item, but only one at a time.
  11. A large, high-quality pearl.
  12. An affiliation of several parishes for joint support and management of their poor; also the jointly-owned workhouse.
verb
  1. To combine sets using the union operation.