NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 23, 2025
Game Summary
| Center Letter | I |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | c, d, l, o, t, y |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 41 words |
| Total Points | 168 points |
| Genius Level | 118 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | - | 7 |
| D | 1 | 5 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 8 |
| I | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | 13 |
| L | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 5 |
| O | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| T | 4 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 5 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 17 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 41 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| C | CI×1 CO×5 CY×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DI×6 DO×2 |
| I | IC×1 ID×8 IL×3 IT×1 |
| L | LI×4 LO×1 |
| O | OD×1 OI×1 OL×1 |
| T | TI×4 TO×1 |
| Y |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| C | CIT×1 COC×1 COD×1 COI×1 COL×2 CYC×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DID×1 DIL×3 DIT×2 DOC×1 DOI×1 |
| I | ICI×1 IDI×3 IDL×1 IDO×1 IDY×3 ILL×3 ITT×1 |
| L | LIC×2 LIL×2 LOC×1 |
| O | ODD×1 OIL×1 OLI×1 |
| T | TID×2 TIL×2 TOI×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) |
|---|---|---|
| do...... † | DO8 | The quality of being docile. |
| ci.. | CI4 | A large settlement, bigger than a town; sometimes with a specific legal definition, depending on the place. |
| co... | CO5 | plural of coccus |
| co..... | CO7 | An addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one. |
| co.. | CO4 | Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral. |
| co... | CO5 | Severe pains that grip the abdomen or the disease that causes such pains (due to intestinal or bowel-related problems). |
| co..... | CO7 | Glue-like; gelatinous. |
| cy.... | CY6 | Characterized by, or moving in cycles, or happening at regular intervals. |
| di.... | DI6 | A small amount of no worth. |
| di... | DI5 | An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use. |
| di.. | DI4 | Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed. |
| di... | DI5 | Redolent of dill (the herb). |
| di... | DI5 | That which was stated before, the aforesaid, the above, the same, likewise. |
| di... | DI5 | A short, simple verse or song. |
| do... | DO5 | A small ornamental piece of lace or linen or paper used to protect a surface from scratches by hard objects such as vases or bowls; or to decorate a plate of food. |
| ic... | IC5 | In the manner of ice; with a cold or chilling effect. |
| id.... | ID6 | The state or condition of being an idiot; the quality of having an intelligence level far below average; mental retardation; intellectual disability. |
| id... | ID5 | A person of low general intelligence. |
| id..... | ID7 | Pertaining to or resembling an idiot; characterised with behaviour resembling idiocy. |
| id.. | ID4 | Without specific purpose, intent or effort. |
| id.. | ID4 | A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power. |
| id.. | ID4 | Alternative spelling of idyll |
| id... | ID5 | Any poem or short written piece composed in the style of Theocritus' short pastoral poems, the Idylls. |
| id..... | ID7 | Of or pertaining to idylls. |
| il..... | IL7 | Not approved by law, but not invalid. |
| il....... | IL9 | In an illicit manner; illegally, immorally or inappropriately. |
| il.. | IL4 | Badly; poorly. |
| it.. | IT4 | Extremely small. |
| li... | LI5 | Not forbidden by formal or informal rules. |
| li..... | LI7 | In a licit manner, legally, in a manner compatible with law. |
| li.. | LI4 | To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music. |
| li.. | LI4 | Any of several flowers in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae, which includes a great many ornamental species. |
| lo.. | LO4 | plural of locus |
| od.... | OD6 | An odd or strange thing or opinion. |
| oi.. | OI4 | Relating to or resembling oil. |
| ol.. | OL4 | A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables. |
| ti.... | TI6 | In a tidy manner; neatly; cleanly. |
| ti.. | TI4 | Arranged neatly and in order. |
| ti.. | TI4 | Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time). |
| ti.. | TI4 | To slope or incline (something); to slant. |
| to.. | TO4 | Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature. |
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.
- docility† (DO8)
- city (CI4)
- cocci (CO5)
- codicil (CO7)
- coil (CO4)
- colic (CO5)
- colloid (CO7)
- cyclic (CY6)
- diddly (DI6)
- dildo (DI5)
- dill (DI4)
- dilly (DI5)
- ditto (DI5)
- ditty (DI5)
- doily (DO5)
- icily (IC5)
- idiocy (ID6)
- idiot (ID5)
- idiotic (ID7)
- idly (ID4)
- idol (ID4)
- idyl (ID4)
- idyll (ID5)
- idyllic (ID7)
- illicit (IL7)
- illicitly (IL9)
- illy (IL4)
- itty (IT4)
- licit (LI5)
- licitly (LI7)
- lilt (LI4)
- lily (LI4)
- loci (LO4)
- oddity (OD6)
- oily (OI4)
- olio (OL4)
- tidily (TI6)
- tidy (TI4)
- till (TI4)
- tilt (TI4)
- toil (TO4)
Answer Definitions
- docility† (noun): The quality of being docile.
- city (noun): A large settlement, bigger than a town; sometimes with a specific legal definition, depending on the place.
- cocci (noun): plural of coccus
- codicil (noun): An addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one.
- coil (noun): Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
- colic (noun): Severe pains that grip the abdomen or the disease that causes such pains (due to intestinal or bowel-related problems).
- colloid (adjective): Glue-like; gelatinous.
- cyclic (adjective): Characterized by, or moving in cycles, or happening at regular intervals.
- diddly (noun): A small amount of no worth.
- dildo (noun): An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use.
- dill (noun): Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed.
- dilly (adjective): Redolent of dill (the herb).
- ditto (noun): That which was stated before, the aforesaid, the above, the same, likewise.
- ditty (noun): A short, simple verse or song.
- doily (noun): A small ornamental piece of lace or linen or paper used to protect a surface from scratches by hard objects such as vases or bowls; or to decorate a plate of food.
- icily (adverb): In the manner of ice; with a cold or chilling effect.
- idiocy (noun): The state or condition of being an idiot; the quality of having an intelligence level far below average; mental retardation; intellectual disability.
- idiot (noun): A person of low general intelligence.
- idiotic (adjective): Pertaining to or resembling an idiot; characterised with behaviour resembling idiocy.
- idly (adverb): Without specific purpose, intent or effort.
- idol (noun): A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
- idyl (noun): Alternative spelling of idyll
- idyll (noun): Any poem or short written piece composed in the style of Theocritus' short pastoral poems, the Idylls.
- idyllic (adjective): Of or pertaining to idylls.
- illicit (adjective): Not approved by law, but not invalid.
- illicitly (adverb): In an illicit manner; illegally, immorally or inappropriately.
- illy (adverb): Badly; poorly.
- itty (adjective): Extremely small.
- licit (adjective): Not forbidden by formal or informal rules.
- licitly (adverb): In a licit manner, legally, in a manner compatible with law.
- lilt (verb): To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
- lily (noun): Any of several flowers in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae, which includes a great many ornamental species.
- loci (noun): plural of locus
- oddity (noun): An odd or strange thing or opinion.
- oily (adjective): Relating to or resembling oil.
- olio (noun): A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables.
- tidily (adverb): In a tidy manner; neatly; cleanly.
- tidy (adjective): Arranged neatly and in order.
- till (preposition): Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
- tilt (verb): To slope or incline (something); to slant.
- toil (noun): Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature.