NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 22, 2024
Game Summary
| Center Letter | N |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | b, e, i, l, t, u |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 59 words |
| Total Points | 277 points |
| Genius Level | 194 points |
| Bingo? | Yes |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | 10 |
| E | - | 1 | - | 2 | - | 1 | 4 |
| I | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 7 |
| L | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 11 |
| N | 4 | - | 5 | - | 1 | - | 10 |
| T | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 7 |
| U | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 10 | Σ | 19 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 59 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| B | BE×4 BI×1 BL×3 BU×2 |
|---|---|
| E | EB×1 EN×3 |
| I | IN×7 |
| L | LE×3 LI×6 LU×2 |
| N | NE×2 NI×4 NU×4 |
| T | TE×3 TI×2 TU×2 |
| U | UN×10 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| B | BEE×2 BEL×1 BEN×1 BIT×1 BLI×2 BLU×1 BUL×1 BUN×1 |
|---|---|
| E | EBU×1 ENN×1 ENT×2 |
| I | INB×1 INL×1 INN×1 INT×3 INU×1 |
| L | LEN×3 LIE×1 LIN×5 LUN×2 |
| N | NEN×1 NET×1 NIB×1 NIN×2 NIT×1 NUB×3 NUL×1 |
| T | TEE×1 TEN×2 TIN×2 TUN×2 |
| U | UNB×3 UNI×2 UNL×2 UNT×3 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| bu...... † | BU8 | A short report, especially one released through official channels to be broadcast or publicized. |
| eb....... † | EB9 | Enthusiastic; high-spirited. |
| be..... | BE7 | A very direct or quick path or trip. |
| be.. | BE4 | past participle of be. |
| be...... | BE8 | The imaginary line marking the upper end of the lower body of an automobile, running just below the bottoms of the windows |
| be.. | BE4 | simple past tense and past participle of bend |
| bi.... | BI6 | past participle of bite |
| bl.. | BL4 | To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up. |
| bl... | BL5 | A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon. |
| bl... | BL5 | Having a thick edge or point; not sharp. |
| bu.. | BU4 | The middle part, cavity, or belly of a sail; the part of a furled sail which is at the center of the yard. |
| en... | EN5 | A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression. |
| en..... | EN7 | An informal alliance or friendly understanding between two states. |
| en..... | EN7 | To give a title to. (Can we add an example for this sense?) |
| in..... | IN7 | Existing as an essential constituent; built-in; inherent; integral. |
| in... | IN5 | To let in; admit. |
| in... | IN5 | A navel that is formed of a hollow in the abdomen (as opposed to one that protrudes from the abdomen). |
| in... | IN5 | intelligence (secret information) |
| in.... | IN6 | Something that is intended. |
| in.... | IN6 | To know intuitively or by immediate perception. |
| in..... | IN7 | useless; unprofitable |
| le..... | LE7 | Lax; not strict; tolerant of dissent or deviation |
| le.. | LE4 | Alternative letter-case form of Lent |
| le.... | LE6 | Any of several plants of the genus Lens, especially Lens culinaris, from southwest Asia, that have edible, lens-shaped seeds within flattened pods. |
| li.. | LI4 | A tendon. |
| li.. | LI4 | A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight. |
| li... | LI5 | Thread or cloth made from flax fiber. |
| li.... | LI6 | A small passerine bird, the common linnet (Linaria cannabina, syn. Carduelis cannabina), in the finch family Fringillidae, native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa. |
| li.. | LI4 | Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc. |
| li.... | LI6 | A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak. |
| lu..... | LU7 | A small opening in a vaulted roof of a circular or crescent shape. |
| ne.. | NE4 | The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957. |
| ne.... | NE6 | Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash. Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, the stinging nettles: Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle), Urtica incisa (Australian nettle); Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis); Bull nettles and spurge nettles of genus Cnidoscolus: Cnidoscolus stimulosus, bull nettle, spurge nettle, Cnidoscolus texanus, Texas bull nettle, Cnidoscolus urens, bull nettle, Nettle trees or tree nettles: Various species of the genus Dendrocnide: Urera baccifera (scratchbush), Urtica ferox (tree nettle); rock nettle (Eucnide); small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla). |
| ni.... | NI6 | A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth. |
| ni.. | NI4 | NATO & ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 9. |
| ni...... | NI8 | The cardinal number occurring after eighteen and before twenty, represented in Roman numerals as XIX and in Arabic numerals as 19. It is the last/largest of the "teens". |
| ni.. | NI4 | Informal spelling of night. |
| nu.... | NU6 | A stub, especially a stub of undeveloped corn or fruit or nipple. |
| nu.... | NU6 | A small knob or lump. |
| nu.... | NU6 | Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman). |
| nu.. | NU4 | A non-existent or empty value or set of values. |
| te.. | TE4 | Synonym of teenager: a person between 13 and 19 years old. |
| te... | TE5 | An opinion, belief, or principle that is held as absolute truth by someone or especially an organization. |
| te.. | TE4 | A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, used for sheltering people from the weather. |
| ti.. | TI4 | A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb. |
| ti.. | TI4 | A slight coloring. |
| tu.. | TU4 | A melody. |
| tu.... | TU6 | An underground or underwater passage. |
| un.... | UN6 | To remove a belt |
| un.... | UN6 | simple past tense and past participle of unbend |
| un..... | UN7 | Not built |
| un.. | UN4 | Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one. |
| un... | UN5 | To bring together as one. |
| un... | UN5 | Not let (not in temporary possession in return for rent) |
| un... | UN5 | Not lit |
| un... | UN5 | To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of. |
| un... | UN5 | Up to the time of (something happening). |
| un.... | UN6 | To cause (something) to be out of tune; to make incapable of harmony, or of harmonious action. |
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.
- bulletin† (BU8)
- ebullient† (EB9)
- beeline (BE7)
- been (BE4)
- beltline (BE8)
- bent (BE4)
- bitten (BI6)
- blin (BL4)
- blini (BL5)
- blunt (BL5)
- bunt (BU4)
- ennui (EN5)
- entente (EN7)
- entitle (EN7)
- inbuilt (IN7)
- inlet (IN5)
- innie (IN5)
- intel (IN5)
- intent (IN6)
- intuit (IN6)
- inutile (IN7)
- lenient (LE7)
- lent (LE4)
- lentil (LE6)
- lien (LI4)
- line (LI4)
- linen (LI5)
- linnet (LI6)
- lint (LI4)
- lintel (LI6)
- lune (LU4)
- lunette (LU7)
- nene (NE4)
- nettle (NE6)
- nibble (NI6)
- nine (NI4)
- nineteen (NI8)
- nite (NI4)
- nubbin (NU6)
- nubble (NU6)
- nubile (NU6)
- null (NU4)
- teen (TE4)
- tenet (TE5)
- tent (TE4)
- tine (TI4)
- tint (TI4)
- tune (TU4)
- tunnel (TU6)
- unbelt (UN6)
- unbent (UN6)
- unbuilt (UN7)
- unit (UN4)
- unite (UN5)
- unlet (UN5)
- unlit (UN5)
- untie (UN5)
- until (UN5)
- untune (UN6)
Answer Definitions
- bulletin† (noun): A short report, especially one released through official channels to be broadcast or publicized.
- ebullient† (adjective): Enthusiastic; high-spirited.
- beeline (noun): A very direct or quick path or trip.
- been (verb): past participle of be.
- beltline (noun): The imaginary line marking the upper end of the lower body of an automobile, running just below the bottoms of the windows
- bent (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bend
- bitten (verb): past participle of bite
- blin (verb): To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
- blini (noun): A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
- blunt (adjective): Having a thick edge or point; not sharp.
- bunt (noun): The middle part, cavity, or belly of a sail; the part of a furled sail which is at the center of the yard.
- ennui (noun): A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.
- entente (noun): An informal alliance or friendly understanding between two states.
- entitle (verb): To give a title to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- inbuilt (adjective): Existing as an essential constituent; built-in; inherent; integral.
- inlet (verb): To let in; admit.
- innie (noun): A navel that is formed of a hollow in the abdomen (as opposed to one that protrudes from the abdomen).
- intel (noun): intelligence (secret information)
- intent (noun): Something that is intended.
- intuit (verb): To know intuitively or by immediate perception.
- inutile (adjective): useless; unprofitable
- lenient (adjective): Lax; not strict; tolerant of dissent or deviation
- lent (noun): Alternative letter-case form of Lent
- lentil (noun): Any of several plants of the genus Lens, especially Lens culinaris, from southwest Asia, that have edible, lens-shaped seeds within flattened pods.
- lien (noun): A tendon.
- line (noun): A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.
- linen (noun): Thread or cloth made from flax fiber.
- linnet (noun): A small passerine bird, the common linnet (Linaria cannabina, syn. Carduelis cannabina), in the finch family Fringillidae, native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa.
- lint (noun): Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc.
- lintel (noun): A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above.
- lune (noun): A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak.
- lunette (noun): A small opening in a vaulted roof of a circular or crescent shape.
- nene (noun): The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957.
- nettle (noun): Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash. Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, the stinging nettles: Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle), Urtica incisa (Australian nettle); Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis); Bull nettles and spurge nettles of genus Cnidoscolus: Cnidoscolus stimulosus, bull nettle, spurge nettle, Cnidoscolus texanus, Texas bull nettle, Cnidoscolus urens, bull nettle, Nettle trees or tree nettles: Various species of the genus Dendrocnide: Urera baccifera (scratchbush), Urtica ferox (tree nettle); rock nettle (Eucnide); small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla).
- nibble (noun): A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
- nine (numeral): NATO & ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 9.
- nineteen (numeral): The cardinal number occurring after eighteen and before twenty, represented in Roman numerals as XIX and in Arabic numerals as 19. It is the last/largest of the "teens".
- nite (noun): Informal spelling of night.
- nubbin (noun): A stub, especially a stub of undeveloped corn or fruit or nipple.
- nubble (noun): A small knob or lump.
- nubile (adjective): Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).
- null (noun): A non-existent or empty value or set of values.
- teen (noun): Synonym of teenager: a person between 13 and 19 years old.
- tenet (noun): An opinion, belief, or principle that is held as absolute truth by someone or especially an organization.
- tent (noun): A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, used for sheltering people from the weather.
- tine (noun): A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb.
- tint (noun): A slight coloring.
- tune (noun): A melody.
- tunnel (noun): An underground or underwater passage.
- unbelt (verb): To remove a belt
- unbent (verb): simple past tense and past participle of unbend
- unbuilt (adjective): Not built
- unit (noun): Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one.
- unite (verb): To bring together as one.
- unlet (adjective): Not let (not in temporary possession in return for rent)
- unlit (adjective): Not lit
- untie (verb): To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of.
- until (preposition): Up to the time of (something happening).
- untune (verb): To cause (something) to be out of tune; to make incapable of harmony, or of harmonious action.