NYT Spelling Bee Answers for October 22, 2024

Game Summary

| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | c, h, i, r, t, u |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 52 words |
| Total Points | 234 points |
| Genius Level | 164 points |
| Bingo? | No |
Table of Contents
As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!
- Spelling Bee Grid
- Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
- Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
- Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
- Today's Complete Solution
- Answer Definitions
If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).

Spelling Bee Grid
The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 14 |
| C | 5 | 7 | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| H | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 7 |
| I | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| T | 5 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | 12 |
| U | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 17 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 52 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AC×2 AR×6 AT×5 AU×1 |
|---|---|
| C | CA×7 CH×9 CI×1 |
| H | HA×6 HU×1 |
| I | |
| R | RA×2 |
| T | TA×7 TH×2 TI×1 TR×2 |
| U |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ACA×2 ARC×3 ARH×1 ARI×1 ART×1 ATR×1 ATT×4 AUR×1 |
|---|---|
| C | CAC×1 CAR×2 CAT×4 CHA×5 CHI×4 CIR×1 |
| H | HAI×2 HAR×1 HAT×3 HUR×1 |
| I | |
| R | RAI×1 RAT×1 |
| T | TAC×4 TAR×2 TAU×1 THA×2 TIA×1 TRA×2 |
| U |
Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)
The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.
Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.
Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| ha..... † | HA7 | The act of cutting of the hair, often done professionally by a barber, hair stylist, or beautician. |
| ac.... | AC6 | A shrub or tree of the tribe Acacieae. |
| ac.. | AC4 | Any of several South American palms, of the genus Euterpe, having a dark purple drupe. |
| ar.. | AR4 | An inverted U shape. |
| ar..... | AR7 | A general term for the prehistoric period intermediate between the earliest period (‘Paleo-Indian’, ‘Paleo-American’, ‘American‐paleolithic’, &c.) of human presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the most recent prehistoric period (‘Woodland’, etc.). |
| ar.... | AR6 | Alternative letter-case form of Arctic |
| ar... | AR5 | One who has attained enlightenment; a Buddhist saint. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata. |
| ar....... | AR9 | Of, or affected by arthritis. |
| at... | AT5 | plural of atrium |
| at.... | AT6 | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| at... | AT5 | The space, often unfinished and with sloped walls, directly below the roof in the uppermost part of a house or other building, generally used for storage or habitation. |
| at..... | AT7 | To pull toward without touching. |
| au.. | AU4 | Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something. |
| ca... | CA5 | plural of cactus |
| ca... | CA5 | A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams. |
| ca.. | CA4 | A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers. |
| ca...... | CA8 | A waterspout. |
| ca..... | CA7 | Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. |
| ca... | CA5 | The act of seizing or capturing. |
| ca....... | CA9 | Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis. |
| ch.. | CH4 | A female gypsy. |
| ch... | CH5 | An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. Compare stool, couch, sofa, settee, loveseat and bench. |
| ch.. | CH4 | To burn something to charcoal. |
| ch... | CH5 | A map. A map illustrating the geography of a specific phenomenon. A navigator's map. |
| ch.. | CH4 | To be engaged in informal conversation. |
| ch.. | CH4 | A Mexican sage grown for its edible seeds, Salvia hispanica. |
| ch... | CH5 | A Latin-American girl; a Latina. |
| ch....... | CH9 | Alternative letter-case form of Chihuahua |
| ch...... | CH8 | Alternative spelling of chit-chat |
| ci... | CI5 | Approximately, about, around |
| ha.. | HA4 | A pigmented filament of keratin which grows from a follicle on the skin of humans and other mammals. |
| ha.. | HA4 | A male deer, especially the male of the red deer after his fifth year. |
| ha... | HA5 | A horizontal door in a floor or ceiling. |
| ha.. | HA4 | third-person singular simple present indicative form of have |
| ha... | HA5 | The fundamental form of yoga that focuses on asanas |
| hu.... | HU6 | Expressing approval, appreciation, or happiness. |
| ra... | RA5 | A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Clipping of tachometer. |
| ta... | TA5 | Implied, but not made explicit, especially through silence. |
| ta.. | TA4 | The sense of touch; feeling. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Sharp to the taste; acid; sour. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight. |
| th.. | TH4 | Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement. |
| th.... | TH6 | Straw, rushes, or similar, used for making or covering the roofs of buildings, or of stacks of hay or grain. |
| ti... | TI5 | The papal crown. |
| tr... | TR5 | An area or expanse. |
| tr... | TR5 | An identifying characteristic, habit or trend. |
Today's Complete Solution
The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.
Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.
- haircut† (HA7)
- acacia (AC6)
- acai (AC4)
- arch (AR4)
- archaic (AR7)
- arctic (AR6)
- arhat (AR5)
- aria (AR4)
- arthritic (AR9)
- atria (AT5)
- attach (AT6)
- attar (AT5)
- attic (AT5)
- attract (AT7)
- aura (AU4)
- cacti (CA5)
- carat (CA5)
- cart (CA4)
- cataract (CA8)
- catarrh (CA7)
- catch (CA5)
- cathartic (CA9)
- chai (CH4)
- chair (CH5)
- char (CH4)
- chart (CH5)
- chat (CH4)
- chia (CH4)
- chica (CH5)
- chihuahua (CH9)
- chitchat (CH8)
- circa (CI5)
- hair (HA4)
- hart (HA4)
- hatch (HA5)
- hath (HA4)
- hatha (HA5)
- hurrah (HU6)
- raita (RA5)
- ratatat (RA7)
- tach (TA4)
- tacit (TA5)
- tact (TA4)
- tactic (TA6)
- tart (TA4)
- tartar (TA6)
- taut (TA4)
- that (TH4)
- thatch (TH6)
- tiara (TI5)
- tract (TR5)
- trait (TR5)
Answer Definitions
- haircut† (noun): The act of cutting of the hair, often done professionally by a barber, hair stylist, or beautician.
- acacia (noun): A shrub or tree of the tribe Acacieae.
- acai (noun): Any of several South American palms, of the genus Euterpe, having a dark purple drupe.
- arch (noun): An inverted U shape.
- archaic (noun): A general term for the prehistoric period intermediate between the earliest period (‘Paleo-Indian’, ‘Paleo-American’, ‘American‐paleolithic’, &c.) of human presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the most recent prehistoric period (‘Woodland’, etc.).
- arctic (adjective): Alternative letter-case form of Arctic
- arhat (noun): One who has attained enlightenment; a Buddhist saint.
- aria (noun): A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.
- arthritic (adjective): Of, or affected by arthritis.
- atria (noun): plural of atrium
- attach (verb): To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively).
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- attic (noun): The space, often unfinished and with sloped walls, directly below the roof in the uppermost part of a house or other building, generally used for storage or habitation.
- attract (verb): To pull toward without touching.
- aura (noun): Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
- cacti (noun): plural of cactus
- carat (noun): A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
- cart (noun): A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers.
- cataract (noun): A waterspout.
- catarrh (noun): Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
- catch (noun): The act of seizing or capturing.
- cathartic (adjective): Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis.
- chai (noun): A female gypsy.
- chair (noun): An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. Compare stool, couch, sofa, settee, loveseat and bench.
- char (verb): To burn something to charcoal.
- chart (noun): A map. A map illustrating the geography of a specific phenomenon. A navigator's map.
- chat (verb): To be engaged in informal conversation.
- chia (noun): A Mexican sage grown for its edible seeds, Salvia hispanica.
- chica (noun): A Latin-American girl; a Latina.
- chihuahua (noun): Alternative letter-case form of Chihuahua
- chitchat (noun): Alternative spelling of chit-chat
- circa (preposition): Approximately, about, around
- hair (noun): A pigmented filament of keratin which grows from a follicle on the skin of humans and other mammals.
- hart (noun): A male deer, especially the male of the red deer after his fifth year.
- hatch (noun): A horizontal door in a floor or ceiling.
- hath (verb): third-person singular simple present indicative form of have
- hatha (noun): The fundamental form of yoga that focuses on asanas
- hurrah (interjection): Expressing approval, appreciation, or happiness.
- raita (noun): A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- tach (noun): Clipping of tachometer.
- tacit (adjective): Implied, but not made explicit, especially through silence.
- tact (noun): The sense of touch; feeling.
- tactic (noun): A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end.
- tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
- tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
- taut (adjective): Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
- that (conjunction): Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement.
- thatch (noun): Straw, rushes, or similar, used for making or covering the roofs of buildings, or of stacks of hay or grain.
- tiara (noun): The papal crown.
- tract (noun): An area or expanse.
- trait (noun): An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.