NYT Spelling Bee Answers for January 3, 2026
Game Summary
| Center Letter | C |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | i, l, n, o, r, u |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 43 words |
| Total Points | 207 points |
| Genius Level | 145 points |
| Bingo? | Yes |
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 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | 23 |
| I | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 5 |
| L | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| N | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| O | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| R | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| U | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 7 | Σ | 12 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 43 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| C | CI×1 CL×1 CO×15 CR×3 CU×3 |
|---|---|
| I | IC×2 IN×1 IO×1 IR×1 |
| L | LO×2 |
| N | NU×1 |
| O | OC×2 |
| R | RI×1 RO×1 RU×1 |
| U | UN×6 UR×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| C | CIR×1 CLI×1 COC×2 COI×3 COL×4 CON×2 COO×1 COR×1 COU×2 CRO×3 CUL×1 CUR×2 |
|---|---|
| I | ICO×2 INC×1 ION×1 IRO×1 |
| L | LOC×2 |
| N | NUN×1 |
| O | OCC×1 OCU×1 |
| R | RIC×1 ROC×1 RUN×1 |
| U | UNC×3 UNI×3 URI×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) |
|---|---|---|
| co....... † | CO9 | US standard spelling of councillor. |
| un...... † | UN8 | Of one color; monochromatic. |
| ci... | CI5 | plural of cirrus Tendrils or claspers. |
| cl.... | CL6 | A medical facility, such as a hospital, especially one for the treatment and diagnosis of outpatients. |
| co... | CO5 | plural of coccus |
| co.... | CO6 | The silky protective case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, the pupa. |
| co.. | CO4 | Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral. |
| co.. | CO4 | A piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a disc, but sometimes polygonal, or with a hole in the middle. |
| co.. | CO4 | The fibre obtained from the husk of a coconut, used chiefly in making rope, matting and as a peat substitute. |
| co... | CO5 | Severe pains that grip the abdomen or the disease that causes such pains (due to intestinal or bowel-related problems). |
| co... | CO5 | The punctuation mark ":". |
| co..... | CO7 | Of, relating to, affecting or within the colon. |
| co... | CO5 | The spectral composition of visible light. |
| co.... | CO6 | To agree (in action or opinion); to have a common opinion; to coincide; to correspond. |
| co... | CO5 | Synonym of conical |
| co.. | CO4 | Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold. |
| co.. | CO4 | Any cereal plant grown for its grain, or the grain thereof. |
| co..... | CO7 | A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council). |
| cr.. | CR4 | A crocodile. |
| cr... | CR5 | plural of crocus |
| cr... | CR5 | To hum or sing softly or in a sentimental manner. |
| cu.. | CU4 | To pick or take someone or something (from a larger group). |
| cu... | CU5 | A strange and interesting object; something that evokes curiosity. |
| cu.. | CU4 | A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet. |
| ic.. | IC4 | An image, symbol, picture, or other representation usually as an object of religious devotion. |
| ic.... | IC6 | Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an icon. |
| in... | IN5 | to bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to |
| io... | IO5 | of, relating to, or containing ions |
| ir.... | IR6 | (Of a situation) Characterized by or constituting (any kind of) irony. |
| lo.. | LO4 | plural of locus |
| lo.. | LO4 | A direction in written or printed music to be returning to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher or lower. |
| nu.... | NU6 | The ecclesiastic title of a permanent diplomatic representative of the Roman Catholic Church to a sovereign state or international organization, who is accorded a rank equivalent to an accredited ambassador, and may also be given additional privileges including recognition as Dean in a country's diplomatic corps. |
| oc... | OC5 | To happen or take place. |
| oc... | OC5 | plural of oculus |
| ri... | RI5 | An extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean. |
| ro.... | RO6 | A style of baroque architecture and decorative art, from 18th-century France, having elaborate ornamentation. |
| ru... | RU5 | Of, pertaining to, or written using runes. |
| un.... | UN6 | To unwind or untwist (something). |
| un.... | UN6 | Not in accord with the current fashion, standards or mores of a particular group; not cool. |
| un.... | UN6 | No definition found; request failed |
| un..... | UN7 | A mythical beast resembling a horse or deer with a single, straight, spiraled horn projecting from its forehead. |
| un...... | UN8 | Not ironic; free of irony. Sincere or genuine. |
| ur.. | UR4 | Pertaining to, contained in, or obtained from urine. |
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.
- councilor† (CO9)
- unicolor† (UN8)
- cirri (CI5)
- clinic (CL6)
- cocci (CO5)
- cocoon (CO6)
- coil (CO4)
- coin (CO4)
- coir (CO4)
- colic (CO5)
- colon (CO5)
- colonic (CO7)
- color (CO5)
- concur (CO6)
- conic (CO5)
- cool (CO4)
- corn (CO4)
- council (CO7)
- croc (CR4)
- croci (CR5)
- croon (CR5)
- cull (CU4)
- curio (CU5)
- curl (CU4)
- icon (IC4)
- iconic (IC6)
- incur (IN5)
- ionic (IO5)
- ironic (IR6)
- loci (LO4)
- loco (LO4)
- nuncio (NU6)
- occur (OC5)
- oculi (OC5)
- ricin (RI5)
- rococo (RO6)
- runic (RU5)
- uncoil (UN6)
- uncool (UN6)
- uncurl (UN6)
- unicorn (UN7)
- unironic (UN8)
- uric (UR4)
Answer Definitions
- councilor† (noun): US standard spelling of councillor.
- unicolor† (adjective): Of one color; monochromatic.
- cirri (noun): plural of cirrus Tendrils or claspers.
- clinic (noun): A medical facility, such as a hospital, especially one for the treatment and diagnosis of outpatients.
- cocci (noun): plural of coccus
- cocoon (noun): The silky protective case spun by the larvae of some insects in which they metamorphose, the pupa.
- coil (noun): Something wound in the form of a helix or spiral.
- coin (noun): A piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a disc, but sometimes polygonal, or with a hole in the middle.
- coir (noun): The fibre obtained from the husk of a coconut, used chiefly in making rope, matting and as a peat substitute.
- colic (noun): Severe pains that grip the abdomen or the disease that causes such pains (due to intestinal or bowel-related problems).
- colon (noun): The punctuation mark ":".
- colonic (adjective): Of, relating to, affecting or within the colon.
- color (noun): The spectral composition of visible light.
- concur (verb): To agree (in action or opinion); to have a common opinion; to coincide; to correspond.
- conic (adjective): Synonym of conical
- cool (adjective): Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
- corn (noun): Any cereal plant grown for its grain, or the grain thereof.
- council (noun): A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council).
- croc (noun): A crocodile.
- croci (noun): plural of crocus
- croon (verb): To hum or sing softly or in a sentimental manner.
- cull (verb): To pick or take someone or something (from a larger group).
- curio (noun): A strange and interesting object; something that evokes curiosity.
- curl (noun): A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet.
- icon (noun): An image, symbol, picture, or other representation usually as an object of religious devotion.
- iconic (adjective): Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an icon.
- incur (verb): to bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to
- ionic (adjective): of, relating to, or containing ions
- ironic (adjective): (Of a situation) Characterized by or constituting (any kind of) irony.
- loci (noun): plural of locus
- loco (adverb): A direction in written or printed music to be returning to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher or lower.
- nuncio (noun): The ecclesiastic title of a permanent diplomatic representative of the Roman Catholic Church to a sovereign state or international organization, who is accorded a rank equivalent to an accredited ambassador, and may also be given additional privileges including recognition as Dean in a country's diplomatic corps.
- occur (verb): To happen or take place.
- oculi (noun): plural of oculus
- ricin (noun): An extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean.
- rococo (noun): A style of baroque architecture and decorative art, from 18th-century France, having elaborate ornamentation.
- runic (adjective): Of, pertaining to, or written using runes.
- uncoil (verb): To unwind or untwist (something).
- uncool (adjective): Not in accord with the current fashion, standards or mores of a particular group; not cool.
- uncurl (n/a): No definition found; request failed
- unicorn (noun): A mythical beast resembling a horse or deer with a single, straight, spiraled horn projecting from its forehead.
- unironic (adjective): Not ironic; free of irony. Sincere or genuine.
- uric (adjective): Pertaining to, contained in, or obtained from urine.