NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 29, 2025
Game Summary
| Center Letter | B |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, d, g, i, l, n |
| # of Pangrams | 3 (Perfect: 2) |
| Total Words | 55 words |
| Total Points | 329 points |
| Genius Level | 230 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 | - | - | 2 |
| B | 10 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 42 |
| D | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| G | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 4 |
| I | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| L | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 3 |
| N | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | Σ | 11 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 8 | 2 | 55 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×1 AL×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×23 BI×10 BL×9 |
| D | DA×2 |
| G | GA×2 GI×1 GL×1 |
| I | |
| L | LA×2 LI×1 |
| N | NA×1 NI×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABI×1 ALI×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAA×1 BAB×2 BAD×1 BAG×1 BAI×2 BAL×6 BAN×10 BID×2 BIL×3 BIN×5 BLA×4 BLI×5 |
| D | DAB×2 |
| G | GAB×2 GIB×1 GLI×1 |
| I | |
| L | LAB×2 LIB×1 |
| N | NAB×1 NIB×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ba..... † | BA7 | present participle of bald |
| bl..... † | BL7 | present participle of blade |
| da...... † | DA8 | present participle of dabble |
| ab..... | AB7 | Continuing or persisting in the same state: lasting, enduring; steadfast. |
| al... | AL5 | The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed. |
| ba.... | BA6 | The bleating of a sheep. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup. |
| ba...... | BA8 | a stage in child language acquisition, during which an infant appears to be experimenting with uttering sounds of language, but not yet producing any recognizable words |
| ba..... | BA7 | present participle of badge |
| ba..... | BA7 | present participle of bag |
| ba.. | BA4 | Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial. |
| ba..... | BA7 | present participle of bail |
| ba.. | BA4 | Having no hair, fur or feathers. |
| ba.... | BA6 | present participle of bale |
| ba.. | BA4 | A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; especially, a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas. |
| ba..... | BA7 | present participle of ball |
| ba... | BA5 | Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh. |
| 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.. | BA4 | A strip of material used for strengthening or coupling. A strip of material wrapped around things to hold them together. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on clothing, to bind, strengthen, or ornament it. A strip along the spine of a book where the pages are attached. A belt or strap that is part of a machine. |
| ba....... | BA9 | Strips of cloth or other material used to create a bandage. |
| ba..... | BA7 | A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband. |
| ba...... | BA8 | Alternative spelling of bandana |
| ba..... | BA7 | A pattern of band-like markings. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A sudden percussive noise. |
| ba..... | BA7 | present participle of bang |
| ba..... | BA7 | present participle of ban |
| bi..... | BI7 | present participle of bid |
| bi.... | BI6 | An awaiting; expectation. |
| bi...... | BI8 | Articulated with both lips. |
| bi.. | BI4 | Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff. |
| bi..... | BI7 | present participle of bill |
| bi.. | BI4 | To tie; to confine by any ligature. |
| bi... | BI5 | The “holy dot” traditionally worn on the forehead of married Hindu women. |
| bi..... | BI7 | Imposing stipulations or requirements that must be honoured. |
| bi..... | BI7 | present participle of binge |
| bi..... | BI7 | present participle of bin |
| bl.. | BL4 | To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion. |
| bl...... | BL8 | present participle of blab |
| bl... | BL5 | Having a soothing effect; not irritating or stimulating. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up. |
| bl... | BL5 | Unable to see, due to physiological or neurological factors. |
| bl...... | BL8 | present participle of blind |
| bl... | BL5 | Alternative form of bling bling |
| bl... | BL5 | A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon. |
| da..... | DA7 | present participle of dab |
| ga..... | GA7 | present participle of gab |
| ga...... | GA8 | present participle of gabble |
| gi.... | GI6 | present participle of gibe |
| gl.. | GL4 | Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought or understanding; superficial; shallow. |
| la... | LA5 | The folds of tissue at the opening of the vulva, at either side of the vagina. |
| la.... | LA6 | Of or pertaining to the lips or labia. |
| li....... | LI9 | Relating or pertaining to the libido. |
| na..... | NA7 | present participle of nab |
| ni...... | NI8 | The act or sound of one who nibbles. |
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.
- balding† (BA7)
- blading† (BL7)
- dabbling† (DA8)
- abiding (AB7)
- alibi (AL5)
- baaing (BA6)
- baba (BA4)
- babbling (BA8)
- badging (BA7)
- bagging (BA7)
- bail (BA4)
- bailing (BA7)
- bald (BA4)
- baling (BA6)
- ball (BA4)
- ballad (BA6)
- balling (BA7)
- banal (BA5)
- banana (BA6)
- band (BA4)
- bandaging (BA9)
- bandana (BA7)
- bandanna (BA8)
- banding (BA7)
- bang (BA4)
- banging (BA7)
- banning (BA7)
- bidding (BI7)
- biding (BI6)
- bilabial (BI8)
- bill (BI4)
- billing (BI7)
- bind (BI4)
- bindi (BI5)
- binding (BI7)
- binging (BI7)
- binning (BI7)
- blab (BL4)
- blabbing (BL8)
- bland (BL5)
- blin (BL4)
- blind (BL5)
- blinding (BL8)
- bling (BL5)
- blini (BL5)
- dabbing (DA7)
- gabbing (GA7)
- gabbling (GA8)
- gibing (GI6)
- glib (GL4)
- labia (LA5)
- labial (LA6)
- libidinal (LI9)
- nabbing (NA7)
- nibbling (NI8)
Answer Definitions
- balding† (verb): present participle of bald
- blading† (verb): present participle of blade
- dabbling† (verb): present participle of dabble
- abiding (adjective): Continuing or persisting in the same state: lasting, enduring; steadfast.
- alibi (noun): The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed.
- baaing (noun): The bleating of a sheep.
- baba (noun): A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
- babbling (noun): a stage in child language acquisition, during which an infant appears to be experimenting with uttering sounds of language, but not yet producing any recognizable words
- badging (verb): present participle of badge
- bagging (verb): present participle of bag
- bail (noun): Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.
- bailing (verb): present participle of bail
- bald (adjective): Having no hair, fur or feathers.
- baling (verb): present participle of bale
- ball (noun): A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
- ballad (noun): A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; especially, a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.
- balling (verb): present participle of ball
- banal (adjective): Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
- 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.
- band (noun): A strip of material used for strengthening or coupling. A strip of material wrapped around things to hold them together. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on clothing, to bind, strengthen, or ornament it. A strip along the spine of a book where the pages are attached. A belt or strap that is part of a machine.
- bandaging (noun): Strips of cloth or other material used to create a bandage.
- bandana (noun): A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.
- bandanna (noun): Alternative spelling of bandana
- banding (noun): A pattern of band-like markings.
- bang (noun): A sudden percussive noise.
- banging (verb): present participle of bang
- banning (verb): present participle of ban
- bidding (verb): present participle of bid
- biding (noun): An awaiting; expectation.
- bilabial (adjective): Articulated with both lips.
- bill (noun): Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
- billing (verb): present participle of bill
- bind (verb): To tie; to confine by any ligature.
- bindi (noun): The “holy dot” traditionally worn on the forehead of married Hindu women.
- binding (adjective): Imposing stipulations or requirements that must be honoured.
- binging (verb): present participle of binge
- binning (verb): present participle of bin
- blab (verb): To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.
- blabbing (verb): present participle of blab
- bland (adjective): Having a soothing effect; not irritating or stimulating.
- blin (verb): To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
- blind (adjective): Unable to see, due to physiological or neurological factors.
- blinding (verb): present participle of blind
- bling (noun): Alternative form of bling bling
- blini (noun): A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
- dabbing (verb): present participle of dab
- gabbing (verb): present participle of gab
- gabbling (verb): present participle of gabble
- gibing (verb): present participle of gibe
- glib (adjective): Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought or understanding; superficial; shallow.
- labia (noun): The folds of tissue at the opening of the vulva, at either side of the vagina.
- labial (adjective): Of or pertaining to the lips or labia.
- libidinal (adjective): Relating or pertaining to the libido.
- nabbing (verb): present participle of nab
- nibbling (noun): The act or sound of one who nibbles.