NYT Spelling Bee Answers for September 20, 2025
Game Summary
| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | d, e, l, n, y, z |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 69 words |
| Total Points | 308 points |
| Genius Level | 216 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 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 19 |
| D | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 21 |
| E | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| L | 8 | 4 | 6 | - | 2 | 20 |
| N | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Z | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | Σ | 23 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 69 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AD×6 AL×5 AN×7 AZ×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DA×11 DE×9 DY×1 |
| E | EL×2 EN×1 |
| L | LA×13 LE×7 |
| N | NA×4 |
| Y | |
| Z | ZA×1 ZE×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ADD×5 ADZ×1 ALL×5 ANA×4 ANN×3 AZA×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DAD×1 DAL×2 DAN×3 DAZ×5 DEA×7 DEL×2 DYA×1 |
| E | ELA×2 ENN×1 |
| L | LAD×6 LAN×4 LAZ×3 LEA×7 |
| N | NAA×1 NAD×1 NAN×2 |
| Y | |
| Z | ZAN×1 ZEA×1 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| an...... † | AN8 | Having been subject to analysis; examined closely, carefully considered. |
| ad... | AD5 | simple past tense and past participle of add |
| ad.... | AD6 | Addendum, any one of two or more numbers or other terms that are to be added together. |
| ad..... | AD7 | plural of addendum |
| ad... | AD5 | To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's living. |
| ad.... | AD6 | simple past and past participle of addle |
| ad.. | AD4 | A cutting tool that has a curved blade set at a right angle to the handle and is used in shaping wood. |
| al... | AL5 | To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm. |
| al..... | AL7 | simple past tense and past participle of allay |
| al.... | AL6 | One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome. |
| al... | AL5 | A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings. |
| al.. | AL4 | To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. |
| an.. | AN4 | of, related to, intended for or involving the anus. |
| an.... | AN6 | Involving the anus. |
| an..... | AN7 | To subject to analysis. |
| an... | AN5 | The record of a single event or item. |
| an.... | AN6 | To subject to great heat and then (often slow) cooling, and sometimes reheating and further cooling, for the purpose of rendering less brittle; to temper; to toughen. |
| an...... | AN8 | simple past tense and past participle of anneal |
| az.... | AZ6 | A plant of the obsolete genus Azalea. |
| da... | DA5 | Father. |
| da.. | DA4 | A valley, often in an otherwise hilly area. |
| da... | DA5 | To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle. |
| da.... | DA6 | To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child. |
| da..... | DA7 | simple past and past participle of dandle |
| da... | DA5 | A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self. |
| da.. | DA4 | The state of being dazed |
| da... | DA5 | In a state of shock or confusion. |
| da..... | DA7 | In a dazed manner. |
| da.... | DA6 | To confuse the sight of by means of excessive brightness. |
| da..... | DA7 | simple past tense and past participle of dazzle |
| de.. | DE4 | No longer living. |
| de.... | DE6 | To render less lively; to diminish; to muffle. |
| de...... | DE8 | simple past tense and past participle of deaden |
| de..... | DE7 | Very accurate in shooting or throwing. |
| de.... | DE6 | Subject to death; mortal. |
| de.. | DE4 | A division, a portion, a share, a part, a piece. |
| de.. | DE4 | A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students). |
| de... | DE5 | A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity. |
| de..... | DE7 | simple past tense and past participle of delay |
| dy.. | DY4 | A set of two elements treated as one; a pair. |
| el.. | EL4 | Uncommon spelling of élan. |
| el... | EL5 | A genus of large South African antelope (Taurotragus), valued both for its hide and flesh. |
| en.... | EN6 | The number nine. |
| la.. | LA4 | To fill or load (related to cargo or a shipment). |
| la... | LA5 | simple past and past participle of lade |
| la... | LA5 | Weighed down with a load, burdened. |
| la... | LA5 | A deep-bowled spoonlike utensil with a long, usually curved, handle. |
| la.... | LA6 | simple past and past participle of ladle |
| la.. | LA4 | The mistress of a household. |
| la.. | LA4 | The part of Earth which is not covered by oceans or other bodies of water. |
| la.... | LA6 | In possession of land. |
| la...... | LA8 | A female landlord. |
| la.. | LA4 | A road, street, or similar thoroughfare. |
| la.. | LA4 | To be lazy, waste time. |
| la... | LA5 | simple past tense and past participle of laze |
| la.. | LA4 | Unwilling to do work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. |
| le.. | LE4 | A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum). |
| le.... | LE6 | Held in place by strips of lead. |
| le.... | LE6 | Made of lead. |
| le...... | LE8 | In a leaden manner. |
| le.. | LE4 | To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating. |
| le.... | LE6 | simple past tense and past participle of lean |
| le.... | LE6 | In a lean way. |
| na.. | NA4 | A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine. |
| na.. | NA4 | Nothing. |
| na.. | NA4 | A banana. |
| na... | NA5 | A child's nurse. |
| za.. | ZA4 | Unusual and awkward in a funny, comical manner; outlandish; clownish. |
| ze.. | ZE4 | The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest. |
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.
- analyzed† (AN8)
- added (AD5)
- addend (AD6)
- addenda (AD7)
- addle (AD5)
- addled (AD6)
- adze (AD4)
- allay (AL5)
- allayed (AL7)
- allele (AL6)
- alley (AL5)
- ally (AL4)
- anal (AN4)
- anally (AN6)
- analyze (AN7)
- annal (AN5)
- anneal (AN6)
- annealed (AN8)
- azalea (AZ6)
- daddy (DA5)
- dale (DA4)
- dally (DA5)
- dandle (DA6)
- dandled (DA7)
- dandy (DA5)
- daze (DA4)
- dazed (DA5)
- dazedly (DA7)
- dazzle (DA6)
- dazzled (DA7)
- dead (DE4)
- deaden (DE6)
- deadened (DE8)
- deadeye (DE7)
- deadly (DE6)
- deal (DE4)
- dean (DE4)
- delay (DE5)
- delayed (DE7)
- dyad (DY4)
- elan (EL4)
- eland (EL5)
- ennead (EN6)
- lade (LA4)
- laded (LA5)
- laden (LA5)
- ladle (LA5)
- ladled (LA6)
- lady (LA4)
- land (LA4)
- landed (LA6)
- landlady (LA8)
- lane (LA4)
- laze (LA4)
- lazed (LA5)
- lazy (LA4)
- lead (LE4)
- leaded (LE6)
- leaden (LE6)
- leadenly (LE8)
- lean (LE4)
- leaned (LE6)
- leanly (LE6)
- naan (NA4)
- nada (NA4)
- nana (NA4)
- nanny (NA5)
- zany (ZA4)
- zeal (ZE4)
Answer Definitions
- analyzed† (adjective): Having been subject to analysis; examined closely, carefully considered.
- added (verb): simple past tense and past participle of add
- addend (noun): Addendum, any one of two or more numbers or other terms that are to be added together.
- addenda (noun): plural of addendum
- addle (verb): To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's living.
- addled (verb): simple past and past participle of addle
- adze (noun): A cutting tool that has a curved blade set at a right angle to the handle and is used in shaping wood.
- allay (verb): To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.
- allayed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of allay
- allele (noun): One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome.
- alley (noun): A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
- ally (verb): To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty.
- anal (adjective): of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.
- anally (adverb): Involving the anus.
- analyze (verb): To subject to analysis.
- annal (noun): The record of a single event or item.
- anneal (verb): To subject to great heat and then (often slow) cooling, and sometimes reheating and further cooling, for the purpose of rendering less brittle; to temper; to toughen.
- annealed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of anneal
- azalea (noun): A plant of the obsolete genus Azalea.
- daddy (noun): Father.
- dale (noun): A valley, often in an otherwise hilly area.
- dally (verb): To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
- dandle (verb): To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child.
- dandled (verb): simple past and past participle of dandle
- dandy (noun): A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self.
- daze (noun): The state of being dazed
- dazed (adjective): In a state of shock or confusion.
- dazedly (adverb): In a dazed manner.
- dazzle (verb): To confuse the sight of by means of excessive brightness.
- dazzled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of dazzle
- dead (adjective): No longer living.
- deaden (verb): To render less lively; to diminish; to muffle.
- deadened (verb): simple past tense and past participle of deaden
- deadeye (adjective): Very accurate in shooting or throwing.
- deadly (adjective): Subject to death; mortal.
- deal (noun): A division, a portion, a share, a part, a piece.
- dean (noun): A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
- delay (noun): A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
- delayed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of delay
- dyad (noun): A set of two elements treated as one; a pair.
- elan (noun): Uncommon spelling of élan.
- eland (noun): A genus of large South African antelope (Taurotragus), valued both for its hide and flesh.
- ennead (noun): The number nine.
- lade (verb): To fill or load (related to cargo or a shipment).
- laded (verb): simple past and past participle of lade
- laden (adjective): Weighed down with a load, burdened.
- ladle (noun): A deep-bowled spoonlike utensil with a long, usually curved, handle.
- ladled (verb): simple past and past participle of ladle
- lady (noun): The mistress of a household.
- land (noun): The part of Earth which is not covered by oceans or other bodies of water.
- landed (adjective): In possession of land.
- landlady (noun): A female landlord.
- lane (noun): A road, street, or similar thoroughfare.
- laze (verb): To be lazy, waste time.
- lazed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of laze
- lazy (adjective): Unwilling to do work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion.
- lead (noun): A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).
- leaded (adjective): Held in place by strips of lead.
- leaden (adjective): Made of lead.
- leadenly (adverb): In a leaden manner.
- lean (verb): To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
- leaned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of lean
- leanly (adverb): In a lean way.
- naan (noun): A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
- nada (pronoun): Nothing.
- nana (noun): A banana.
- nanny (noun): A child's nurse.
- zany (adjective): Unusual and awkward in a funny, comical manner; outlandish; clownish.
- zeal (noun): The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.