NYT Spelling Bee Answers for January 16, 2025
Game Summary
| Center Letter | B |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, l, n, o, t, y |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 57 words |
| Total Points | 248 points |
| Genius Level | 174 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 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| B | 17 | 7 | 13 | 4 | - | 1 | 42 |
| L | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 3 |
| N | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 5 |
| O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| T | - | 3 | - | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 20 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 57 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×2 AT×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×15 BL×10 BO×17 |
| L | LO×3 |
| N | NA×2 NO×3 |
| O | |
| T | TA×4 |
| Y |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABB×1 ABL×1 ATT×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAB×3 BAL×4 BAN×4 BAO×1 BAT×3 BLA×5 BLO×5 BOA×1 BOB×1 BOL×4 BON×4 BOO×6 BOT×1 |
| L | LOB×3 |
| N | NAB×1 NAN×1 NOB×1 NOO×1 NOT×1 |
| O | |
| T | TAB×3 TAL×1 |
| Y |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| no..... † | NO7 | As a pointed example; in a notable manner. |
| ab... | AB5 | The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. |
| ab.. | AB4 | In an able manner; with great ability. |
| at..... | AT7 | Used to show encouragement or approval to a boy, man, or male animal. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass. |
| ba..... | BA7 | Alternative spelling of ball boy |
| ba..... | BA7 | An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible. |
| ba.... | BA6 | Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote. |
| ba... | BA5 | Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh. |
| ba..... | BA7 | In a banal, trite or boring manner. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin. In particular, the sweet, yellow fruit of the Cavendish banana cultivar, which may be eaten raw, as distinct from e.g. a plantain for cooking. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An Indian trader, merchant, cashier, or money changer. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A boy employed to watch over the bats, and assist the players in retrieving them during play. |
| ba... | BA5 | A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes. |
| ba... | BA5 | Mad, crazy, silly. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion. |
| bl.... | BL6 | Tending to blab or gossip a lot. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat. |
| bl..... | BL7 | Obvious, on show; unashamed; loudly obtrusive or offensive. |
| bl....... | BL9 | In a blatant manner; so as to be highly visible or obvious. |
| bl... | BL5 | To cause to become distended. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape. |
| bl.... | BL6 | Similar in shape to blobs; amorphous in appearance; partially irregular in appearance like bubbles. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A blemish, spot or stain made by a coloured substance. |
| bl.... | BL6 | (Very) drunk or intoxicated. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Synonym of tapioca pearl. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord. |
| bo.. | BO4 | The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A long, heavy, single-edged machete. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw. |
| bo.... | BO6 | A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy. |
| bo... | BO5 | Alternative spelling of bonnie |
| bo.... | BO6 | The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river. |
| bo.. | BO4 | resembling, having the appearance or consistence of, or relating to bone; osseous. |
| bo.. | BO4 | An idiot; a fool. |
| bo.... | BO6 | Alternative spelling of boo-boo |
| bo... | BO5 | A stupid person. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A prayer; petition. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football. |
| bo... | BO5 | A form of prize which, when a ship was captured at sea, could be distributed at once. |
| bo.... | BO6 | The scientific study of plants, a branch of biology. Typically those disciplines that involve the whole plant. |
| lo... | LO5 | An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor. |
| lo...... | LO8 | Gruel. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A wolf. |
| na... | NA5 | An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire. |
| na..... | NA7 | A very small autonomous robot, typically the size of a biological cell, designed to work alone or in very large numbers to achieve some task. |
| no... | NO5 | In a noble manner. |
| no.. | NO4 | A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things. |
| ta... | TA5 | A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering. |
| ta... | TA5 | A pair of tuned hand drums, used in various musical genres of the Indian subcontinent, that are similar to bongos. |
| ta... | TA5 | An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion. |
| ta..... | TA7 | A tall chest of drawers, or combination of chest on chest, or chest with a small wardrobe on top. Usually with low bracket feet but always resulting in a tall piece of furniture. |
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.
- notably† (NO7)
- abbot (AB5)
- ably (AB4)
- attaboy (AT7)
- baba (BA4)
- baboon (BA6)
- baby (BA4)
- ball (BA4)
- ballboy (BA7)
- balloon (BA7)
- ballot (BA6)
- banal (BA5)
- banally (BA7)
- banana (BA6)
- banyan (BA6)
- baobab (BA6)
- batboy (BA6)
- baton (BA5)
- batty (BA5)
- blab (BL4)
- blabby (BL6)
- blat (BL4)
- blatant (BL7)
- blatantly (BL9)
- bloat (BL5)
- blob (BL4)
- blobby (BL6)
- blot (BL4)
- blotto (BL6)
- boat (BO4)
- boba (BO4)
- bola (BO4)
- boll (BO4)
- bolo (BO4)
- bolt (BO4)
- bonbon (BO6)
- bonny (BO5)
- bonobo (BO6)
- bony (BO4)
- boob (BO4)
- booboo (BO6)
- booby (BO5)
- boon (BO4)
- boot (BO4)
- booty (BO5)
- botany (BO6)
- lobby (LO5)
- loblolly (LO8)
- lobo (LO4)
- nabob (NA5)
- nanobot (NA7)
- nobly (NO5)
- noob (NO4)
- tabby (TA5)
- tabla (TA5)
- taboo (TA5)
- tallboy (TA7)
Answer Definitions
- notably† (adverb): As a pointed example; in a notable manner.
- abbot (noun): The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
- ably (adverb): In an able manner; with great ability.
- attaboy (interjection): Used to show encouragement or approval to a boy, man, or male animal.
- baba (noun): A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
- baboon (noun): An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks.
- baby (noun): A very young human, particularly from birth to a couple of years old or until walking is fully mastered.
- ball (noun): A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
- ballboy (noun): Alternative spelling of ball boy
- balloon (noun): An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible.
- ballot (noun): Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
- banal (adjective): Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
- banally (adverb): In a banal, trite or boring manner.
- banana (noun): An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin. In particular, the sweet, yellow fruit of the Cavendish banana cultivar, which may be eaten raw, as distinct from e.g. a plantain for cooking.
- banyan (noun): An Indian trader, merchant, cashier, or money changer.
- baobab (noun): A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits.
- batboy (noun): A boy employed to watch over the bats, and assist the players in retrieving them during play.
- baton (noun): A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
- batty (adjective): Mad, crazy, silly.
- blab (verb): To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.
- blabby (adjective): Tending to blab or gossip a lot.
- blat (verb): To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat.
- blatant (adjective): Obvious, on show; unashamed; loudly obtrusive or offensive.
- blatantly (adverb): In a blatant manner; so as to be highly visible or obvious.
- bloat (verb): To cause to become distended.
- blob (noun): A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape.
- blobby (adjective): Similar in shape to blobs; amorphous in appearance; partially irregular in appearance like bubbles.
- blot (noun): A blemish, spot or stain made by a coloured substance.
- blotto (adjective): (Very) drunk or intoxicated.
- boat (noun): A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.
- boba (noun): Synonym of tapioca pearl.
- bola (noun): A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord.
- boll (noun): The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant.
- bolo (noun): A long, heavy, single-edged machete.
- bolt (noun): A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
- bonbon (noun): A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy.
- bonny (adjective): Alternative spelling of bonnie
- bonobo (noun): The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river.
- bony (adjective): resembling, having the appearance or consistence of, or relating to bone; osseous.
- boob (noun): An idiot; a fool.
- booboo (noun): Alternative spelling of boo-boo
- booby (noun): A stupid person.
- boon (noun): A prayer; petition.
- boot (noun): A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football.
- booty (noun): A form of prize which, when a ship was captured at sea, could be distributed at once.
- botany (noun): The scientific study of plants, a branch of biology. Typically those disciplines that involve the whole plant.
- lobby (noun): An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor.
- loblolly (noun): Gruel.
- lobo (noun): A wolf.
- nabob (noun): An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
- nanobot (noun): A very small autonomous robot, typically the size of a biological cell, designed to work alone or in very large numbers to achieve some task.
- nobly (adverb): In a noble manner.
- noob (noun): A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things.
- tabby (noun): A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering.
- tabla (noun): A pair of tuned hand drums, used in various musical genres of the Indian subcontinent, that are similar to bongos.
- taboo (noun): An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
- tallboy (noun): A tall chest of drawers, or combination of chest on chest, or chest with a small wardrobe on top. Usually with low bracket feet but always resulting in a tall piece of furniture.