NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 20, 2025

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 20, 2025

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 20, 2025
Center LetterG
Outer Lettersa, d, e, l, m, n
# of Pangrams1 (Perfect: 1)
Total Words77 words
Total Points370 points
Genius Level259 points
Bingo?Yes

Table of Contents

As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!

  1. Spelling Bee Grid
  2. Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
  3. Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
  4. Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
  5. Today's Complete Solution
  6. Answer Definitions

If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 20, 2025

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.

456789Σ
A2542--13
D1-22--5
E2322--9
G137732133
L-23---5
M23231-11
N--1---1
Σ202021123177

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.

A
AD×1
AG×3
AL×5
AM×1
AN×3
D
DA×5
E
EA×2
ED×2
EG×2
EN×3
G
GA×16
GE×5
GL×12
L
LA×1
LE×4
M
MA×8
ME×3
N
NA×1

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.

A
ADA×1
AGE×2
AGL×1
ALG×3
ALL×2
AMA×1
ANG×3
D
DAM×2
DAN×3
E
EAG×2
EDG×2
EGA×1
EGG×1
END×1
ENG×2
G
GAD×1
GAG×4
GAL×5
GAM×3
GAN×3
GEL×4
GEN×1
GLA×6
GLE×6
L
LAG×1
LED×1
LEG×3
M
MAG×2
MAN×6
MEG×2
MEL×1
N
NAG×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 ().

Word2L RefDefinition (click to reveal)
ma..... MA7No definition found; request failed
ad...AD5An old saying which has obtained credit by long use.
ag..AG4Old.
ag....AG6A temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to.
ag....AG6Glowing with subdued light.
al..AL4Any of many aquatic photosynthetic organisms, including the seaweeds, whose size ranges from a single cell to giant kelps and whose biochemistry and forms are very diverse, some being eukaryotic.
al...AL5plural of alga
al...AL5Pertaining to, or like, algae.
al....AL6To state under oath, to plead.
al.....AL7simple past tense and past participle of allege
am.....AM7An alloy containing mercury.
an...AN5An incorporeal and sometimes divine messenger from a deity, or other divine entity, often depicted in art as a youthful winged figure in flowing robes.
an...AN5A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle).
an....AN6simple past and past participle of angle
da....DA6Injury or harm; the condition or measure of something not being intact.
da.....DA7simple past and past participle of damage
da..DA4Damn.
da....DA6To hang loosely with the ability to swing.
da.....DA7simple past and past participle of dangle
ea...EA5Any of several large carnivorous and carrion-eating birds in the family Accipitridae, having a powerful hooked bill and keen vision.
ea....EA6simple past tense and past participle of eagle
ed..ED4The boundary line of a surface.
ed...ED5simple past tense and past participle of edge
eg..EG4a mild exclamation of surprise, contempt, outrage, etc.
eg...EG5simple past tense and past participle of egg
en.....EN7The final stage of a game of chess, when there are few pieces left.
en....EN6To interact socially. To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied. To draw into conversation. To attract, to please; to fascinate or win over (someone).
en.....EN7simple past tense and past participle of engage
ga....GA6simple past tense and past participle of gad
ga..GA4Mentally senile.
ga..GA4To bind by pledge, or security; to engage.
ga....GA6past participle of gag
ga....GA6A group of geese when they are on the ground or on the water.
ga..GA4Celebratory; festive.
ga......GA8Any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga.
ga..GA4To sing; charm; enchant.
ga..GA4Bile, especially that of an animal; the greenish, profoundly bitter-tasting fluid found in bile ducts and gall bladders, structures associated with the liver.
ga....GA6simple past tense and past participle of gall
ga..GA4A playful or competitive activity. A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.
ga...GA5simple past and past participle of game
ga...GA5The third letter of the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ), preceded by beta (Β, β) and followed by delta, (Δ, δ).
ga..GA4To go; walk; proceed.
ga....GA6simple past tense and past participle of gang
ga......GA8The underworld of organized crime.
ge..GE4Money. In particular, (money paid as) a medieval form of land tax.
ge....GE6simple past tense and past participle of geld
ge...GE5Any gelled suspension made for culinary purposes.
ge....GE6simple past tense and past participle of gel
ge..GE4A theoretical unit of heredity of living organisms; a gene may take several values and in principle predetermines a precise trait of an organism's form (phenotype), such as hair color.
gl..GL4Pleased, happy, gratified.
gl.....GL7To cause (something) to become more glad.
gl.......GL9simple past and past participle of gladden
gl...GL5An open passage through a wood; a grassy open or cleared space in a forest.
gl..GL4Glamour.
gl...GL5A specialized cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin in the human or animal body that synthesizes a chemical substance, such as hormones or breast milk, and releases it, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland).
gl...GL5A small or indistinct shaft or stream of light.
gl.....GL7No definition found; request failed
gl...GL5To collect (grain, grapes, etc.) left behind after the main harvest or gathering.
gl.....GL7simple past and past participle of glean
gl..GL4Joy; happiness great delight, especially from one's own good fortune or from another's misfortune.
gl..GL4A secluded and narrow valley, especially one with a river running through it; a dale; a depression between hills.
la....LA6simple past tense and past participle of lag
le...LE5A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles such a shelf in form or use, as a projecting ridge or part, or a molding or edge in joinery.
le...LE5Relating to the law or to lawyers.
le....LE6An unrealistic story depicting past events. A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.
le....LE6Having legs of a certain specified type or number.
ma..MA4A magician, wizard or sorcerer.
ma...MA5The molten matter within the earth, the source of the material of lava flows, dikes of eruptive rocks, etc.
ma....MA6To direct or be in charge of.
ma.....MA7simple past and past participle of manage
ma...MA5A comic originating in Japan.
ma...MA5A skin disease of nonhuman mammals caused by parasitic mites (Sarcoptes spp., Demodecidae spp.).
ma....MA6To change, mutilate or disfigure by cutting, tearing, rearranging etc.
me..ME4Very large.
me......ME8No definition found; request failed
me.....ME7A mixture of different things; a disordered mixture.
na....NA6simple past tense and past participle of nag

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.

  • mangled  (MA7)
  • adage  (AD5)
  • aged  (AG4)
  • agenda  (AG6)
  • agleam  (AG6)
  • alga  (AL4)
  • algae  (AL5)
  • algal  (AL5)
  • allege  (AL6)
  • alleged  (AL7)
  • amalgam  (AM7)
  • angel  (AN5)
  • angle  (AN5)
  • angled  (AN6)
  • damage  (DA6)
  • damaged  (DA7)
  • dang  (DA4)
  • dangle  (DA6)
  • dangled  (DA7)
  • eagle  (EA5)
  • eagled  (EA6)
  • edge  (ED4)
  • edged  (ED5)
  • egad  (EG4)
  • egged  (EG5)
  • endgame  (EN7)
  • engage  (EN6)
  • engaged  (EN7)
  • gadded  (GA6)
  • gaga  (GA4)
  • gage  (GA4)
  • gagged  (GA6)
  • gaggle  (GA6)
  • gala  (GA4)
  • galangal  (GA8)
  • gale  (GA4)
  • gall  (GA4)
  • galled  (GA6)
  • game  (GA4)
  • gamed  (GA5)
  • gamma  (GA5)
  • gang  (GA4)
  • ganged  (GA6)
  • gangland  (GA8)
  • geld  (GE4)
  • gelded  (GE6)
  • gelee  (GE5)
  • gelled  (GE6)
  • gene  (GE4)
  • glad  (GL4)
  • gladden  (GL7)
  • gladdened  (GL9)
  • glade  (GL5)
  • glam  (GL4)
  • gland  (GL5)
  • gleam  (GL5)
  • gleamed  (GL7)
  • glean  (GL5)
  • gleaned  (GL7)
  • glee  (GL4)
  • glen  (GL4)
  • lagged  (LA6)
  • ledge  (LE5)
  • legal  (LE5)
  • legend  (LE6)
  • legged  (LE6)
  • mage  (MA4)
  • magma  (MA5)
  • manage  (MA6)
  • managed  (MA7)
  • manga  (MA5)
  • mange  (MA5)
  • mangle  (MA6)
  • mega  (ME4)
  • megadeal  (ME8)
  • melange  (ME7)
  • nagged  (NA6)

Answer Definitions

  • mangled (n/a): No definition found; request failed
  • adage (noun): An old saying which has obtained credit by long use.
  • aged (adjective): Old.
  • agenda (noun): A temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to.
  • agleam (adjective): Glowing with subdued light.
  • alga (noun): Any of many aquatic photosynthetic organisms, including the seaweeds, whose size ranges from a single cell to giant kelps and whose biochemistry and forms are very diverse, some being eukaryotic.
  • algae (noun): plural of alga
  • algal (adjective): Pertaining to, or like, algae.
  • allege (verb): To state under oath, to plead.
  • alleged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of allege
  • amalgam (noun): An alloy containing mercury.
  • angel (noun): An incorporeal and sometimes divine messenger from a deity, or other divine entity, often depicted in art as a youthful winged figure in flowing robes.
  • angle (noun): A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle).
  • angled (verb): simple past and past participle of angle
  • damage (noun): Injury or harm; the condition or measure of something not being intact.
  • damaged (verb): simple past and past participle of damage
  • dang (verb): Damn.
  • dangle (verb): To hang loosely with the ability to swing.
  • dangled (verb): simple past and past participle of dangle
  • eagle (noun): Any of several large carnivorous and carrion-eating birds in the family Accipitridae, having a powerful hooked bill and keen vision.
  • eagled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of eagle
  • edge (noun): The boundary line of a surface.
  • edged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of edge
  • egad (interjection): a mild exclamation of surprise, contempt, outrage, etc.
  • egged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of egg
  • endgame (noun): The final stage of a game of chess, when there are few pieces left.
  • engage (verb): To interact socially. To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied. To draw into conversation. To attract, to please; to fascinate or win over (someone).
  • engaged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of engage
  • gadded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of gad
  • gaga (adjective): Mentally senile.
  • gage (verb): To bind by pledge, or security; to engage.
  • gagged (verb): past participle of gag
  • gaggle (noun): A group of geese when they are on the ground or on the water.
  • gala (adjective): Celebratory; festive.
  • galangal (noun): Any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga.
  • gale (verb): To sing; charm; enchant.
  • gall (noun): Bile, especially that of an animal; the greenish, profoundly bitter-tasting fluid found in bile ducts and gall bladders, structures associated with the liver.
  • galled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of gall
  • game (noun): A playful or competitive activity. A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.
  • gamed (verb): simple past and past participle of game
  • gamma (noun): The third letter of the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ), preceded by beta (Β, β) and followed by delta, (Δ, δ).
  • gang (verb): To go; walk; proceed.
  • ganged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of gang
  • gangland (noun): The underworld of organized crime.
  • geld (noun): Money. In particular, (money paid as) a medieval form of land tax.
  • gelded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of geld
  • gelee (noun): Any gelled suspension made for culinary purposes.
  • gelled (verb): simple past tense and past participle of gel
  • gene (noun): A theoretical unit of heredity of living organisms; a gene may take several values and in principle predetermines a precise trait of an organism's form (phenotype), such as hair color.
  • glad (adjective): Pleased, happy, gratified.
  • gladden (verb): To cause (something) to become more glad.
  • gladdened (verb): simple past and past participle of gladden
  • glade (noun): An open passage through a wood; a grassy open or cleared space in a forest.
  • glam (noun): Glamour.
  • gland (noun): A specialized cell, group of cells, or organ of endothelial origin in the human or animal body that synthesizes a chemical substance, such as hormones or breast milk, and releases it, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland).
  • gleam (noun): A small or indistinct shaft or stream of light.
  • gleamed (n/a): No definition found; request failed
  • glean (verb): To collect (grain, grapes, etc.) left behind after the main harvest or gathering.
  • gleaned (verb): simple past and past participle of glean
  • glee (noun): Joy; happiness great delight, especially from one's own good fortune or from another's misfortune.
  • glen (noun): A secluded and narrow valley, especially one with a river running through it; a dale; a depression between hills.
  • lagged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of lag
  • ledge (noun): A shelf on which articles may be laid; also, that which resembles such a shelf in form or use, as a projecting ridge or part, or a molding or edge in joinery.
  • legal (adjective): Relating to the law or to lawyers.
  • legend (noun): An unrealistic story depicting past events. A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.
  • legged (adjective): Having legs of a certain specified type or number.
  • mage (noun): A magician, wizard or sorcerer.
  • magma (noun): The molten matter within the earth, the source of the material of lava flows, dikes of eruptive rocks, etc.
  • manage (verb): To direct or be in charge of.
  • managed (verb): simple past and past participle of manage
  • manga (noun): A comic originating in Japan.
  • mange (noun): A skin disease of nonhuman mammals caused by parasitic mites (Sarcoptes spp., Demodecidae spp.).
  • mangle (verb): To change, mutilate or disfigure by cutting, tearing, rearranging etc.
  • mega (adjective): Very large.
  • megadeal (n/a): No definition found; request failed
  • melange (noun): A mixture of different things; a disordered mixture.
  • nagged (verb): simple past tense and past participle of nag