NYT Spelling Bee Answers for January 14, 2026
Game Summary
| Center Letter | O |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, b, c, e, l, p |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 56 words |
| Total Points | 175 points |
| Genius Level | 122 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 3 |
| B | 8 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | 14 |
| C | 8 | 3 | 3 | - | 1 | - | 15 |
| E | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| L | 6 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | 9 |
| O | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 3 |
| P | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 11 | Σ | 33 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 56 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×3 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×1 BE×1 BL×3 BO×9 |
| C | CA×3 CE×1 CL×2 CO×9 |
| E | EL×1 |
| L | LO×9 |
| O | OB×1 OL×1 OP×1 |
| P | PA×1 PE×1 PL×2 PO×7 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALC×1 ALL×1 ALO×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAO×1 BEB×1 BLO×3 BOB×2 BOC×1 BOL×3 BOO×3 |
| C | CAC×1 CAL×1 CAP×1 CEL×1 CLO×2 COA×1 COB×1 COC×2 COL×2 COO×2 COP×1 |
| E | ELO×1 |
| L | LOB×2 LOC×3 LOL×2 LOO×1 LOP×1 |
| O | OBO×1 OLE×1 OPA×1 |
| P | PAL×1 PEO×1 PLA×1 PLO×1 POL×3 POO×2 POP×2 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| pl..... † | PL7 | A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment. |
| al..... | AL7 | An alcoholic drink that looks and tastes like a soft drink. |
| al....... | AL9 | Able to be allocated. |
| al.. | AL4 | The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits. |
| be... | BE5 | An early form of modern jazz played by small groups and featuring driving rhythms and complex, often dissonant harmonies. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A group of voters or politicians who share common goals. |
| bl... | BL5 | To blow air bubbles or audibly slosh about in water. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Synonym of tapioca pearl. |
| bo.... | BO6 | A furry ball attached on top of a hat. |
| bo... | BO5 | A game, similar to bowls or pétanque, played on a long, narrow, dirt-covered court |
| bo.. | BO4 | A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord. |
| bo.. | BO4 | The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A long, heavy, single-edged machete. |
| bo.. | BO4 | An idiot; a fool. |
| bo.... | BO6 | Alternative spelling of boo-boo |
| bo.. | BO4 | A low-pitched beeping sound. |
| ca... | CA5 | A tree, Theobroma cacao, whose seed is used to make chocolate. |
| ca...... | CA8 | Any of various tropical plants grown in the Americas, especially of the genera Amaranthus and Xanthosoma, cultivated for their edible leaves. |
| ca.. | CA4 | A movable bar placed across the fingerboard of a guitar used to raise the pitch of all strings. |
| ce... | CE5 | A large unfretted stringed instrument of the violin family with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) C-G-D-A and an endpin to support its weight, usually played with a bow. |
| cl.... | CL6 | A sewer. |
| cl.. | CL4 | The sound of a horse's shod hoof striking the ground. |
| co.. | CO4 | A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel. |
| co.... | CO6 | A cobblestone. |
| co.. | CO4 | Any of the four cultivated plants which belong to the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. |
| co... | CO5 | The dried and partially fermented fatty seeds of the cacao tree from which chocolate is made. |
| co.. | CO4 | The kola plant, genus Cola, famous for its nut, or one of these nuts. |
| co.... | CO6 | A collaboration, especially a work produced by several musicians who do not usually work together. |
| co.. | CO4 | Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold. |
| co.. | CO4 | A basket, pen or enclosure for birds or small animals. |
| co.. | CO4 | To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult. |
| el... | EL5 | To run away from home with a paramour. |
| lo.. | LO4 | Any projection or division, especially one of a somewhat rounded form. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A wolf. |
| lo... | LO5 | From or in a nearby location. |
| lo.... | LO6 | The place where something happens. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A direction in written or printed music to be returning to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher or lower. |
| lo.. | LO4 | To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease. |
| lo.... | LO6 | To walk or move with a bouncing or undulating motion and at an unhurried pace. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A length of thread, line or rope that is doubled over to make an opening. |
| lo.. | LO4 | To travel an easy pace with long strides. |
| ob.. | OB4 | A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family. |
| ol.. | OL4 | A type of energy-absorbing landing gear strut in which sudden compression or extension of the strut causes a gas-filled chamber to push or pull a piston which forces oil through a small orifice, resulting in absorption of energy through viscous effects. |
| op.. | OP4 | A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO2·nH2O. A precious gem, an iridescent gemstone found in the opal-silica mineral substrate (potch) |
| pa... | PA5 | Clipping of paleodiet. |
| pe.... | PE6 | Used as plural of person; a body of human beings considered generally or collectively; a group of two or more persons. |
| pl.. | PL4 | A sound or action like liquid hitting a hard surface, or an object falling into a body of water. |
| po.. | PO4 | Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes. |
| po.. | PO4 | A survey of people, usually statistically analyzed to gauge wider public opinion. |
| po.. | PO4 | A ball game where two teams of players on horseback use long-handled mallets to propel the ball along the ground and into their opponent's goal. |
| po.. | PO4 | A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water. |
| po.. | PO4 | To make a short blast on a horn. |
| po.. | PO4 | An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state. Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority. Any similar head of a religion. A theocrat, a priest-king, including (at first especially) over the imaginary land of Prester John or (now) in figurative and alliterative uses. An effigy of the pope traditionally burnt in Britain on Guy Fawkes' Day and (occasionally) at other times. Pope Day, the present Guy Fawkes Day. |
| po... | PO5 | father, papa. |
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.
- placebo† (PL7)
- alcopop (AL7)
- allocable (AL9)
- aloe (AL4)
- baobab (BA6)
- bebop (BE5)
- blob (BL4)
- bloc (BL4)
- bloop (BL5)
- boba (BO4)
- bobble (BO6)
- bocce (BO5)
- bola (BO4)
- boll (BO4)
- bolo (BO4)
- boob (BO4)
- booboo (BO6)
- boop (BO4)
- cacao (CA5)
- callaloo (CA8)
- capo (CA4)
- cello (CE5)
- cloaca (CL6)
- clop (CL4)
- coal (CO4)
- cobble (CO6)
- coca (CO4)
- cocoa (CO5)
- cola (CO4)
- collab (CO6)
- cool (CO4)
- coop (CO4)
- cope (CO4)
- elope (EL5)
- lobe (LO4)
- lobo (LO4)
- local (LO5)
- locale (LO6)
- loco (LO4)
- loll (LO4)
- lollop (LO6)
- loop (LO4)
- lope (LO4)
- oboe (OB4)
- oleo (OL4)
- opal (OP4)
- paleo (PA5)
- people (PE6)
- plop (PL4)
- pole (PO4)
- poll (PO4)
- polo (PO4)
- pool (PO4)
- poop (PO4)
- pope (PO4)
- poppa (PO5)
Answer Definitions
- placebo† (noun): A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment.
- alcopop (noun): An alcoholic drink that looks and tastes like a soft drink.
- allocable (adjective): Able to be allocated.
- aloe (noun): The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica.
- baobab (noun): A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits.
- bebop (noun): An early form of modern jazz played by small groups and featuring driving rhythms and complex, often dissonant harmonies.
- blob (noun): A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape.
- bloc (noun): A group of voters or politicians who share common goals.
- bloop (verb): To blow air bubbles or audibly slosh about in water.
- boba (noun): Synonym of tapioca pearl.
- bobble (noun): A furry ball attached on top of a hat.
- bocce (noun): A game, similar to bowls or pétanque, played on a long, narrow, dirt-covered court
- bola (noun): A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord.
- boll (noun): The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant.
- bolo (noun): A long, heavy, single-edged machete.
- boob (noun): An idiot; a fool.
- booboo (noun): Alternative spelling of boo-boo
- boop (noun): A low-pitched beeping sound.
- cacao (noun): A tree, Theobroma cacao, whose seed is used to make chocolate.
- callaloo (noun): Any of various tropical plants grown in the Americas, especially of the genera Amaranthus and Xanthosoma, cultivated for their edible leaves.
- capo (noun): A movable bar placed across the fingerboard of a guitar used to raise the pitch of all strings.
- cello (noun): A large unfretted stringed instrument of the violin family with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) C-G-D-A and an endpin to support its weight, usually played with a bow.
- cloaca (noun): A sewer.
- clop (noun): The sound of a horse's shod hoof striking the ground.
- coal (noun): A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
- cobble (noun): A cobblestone.
- coca (noun): Any of the four cultivated plants which belong to the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America.
- cocoa (noun): The dried and partially fermented fatty seeds of the cacao tree from which chocolate is made.
- cola (noun): The kola plant, genus Cola, famous for its nut, or one of these nuts.
- collab (noun): A collaboration, especially a work produced by several musicians who do not usually work together.
- cool (adjective): Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
- coop (noun): A basket, pen or enclosure for birds or small animals.
- cope (verb): To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.
- elope (verb): To run away from home with a paramour.
- lobe (noun): Any projection or division, especially one of a somewhat rounded form.
- lobo (noun): A wolf.
- local (adjective): From or in a nearby location.
- locale (noun): The place where something happens.
- loco (adverb): A direction in written or printed music to be returning to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher or lower.
- loll (verb): To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease.
- lollop (verb): To walk or move with a bouncing or undulating motion and at an unhurried pace.
- loop (noun): A length of thread, line or rope that is doubled over to make an opening.
- lope (verb): To travel an easy pace with long strides.
- oboe (noun): A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family.
- oleo (noun): A type of energy-absorbing landing gear strut in which sudden compression or extension of the strut causes a gas-filled chamber to push or pull a piston which forces oil through a small orifice, resulting in absorption of energy through viscous effects.
- opal (noun): A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO2·nH2O. A precious gem, an iridescent gemstone found in the opal-silica mineral substrate (potch)
- paleo (noun): Clipping of paleodiet.
- people (noun): Used as plural of person; a body of human beings considered generally or collectively; a group of two or more persons.
- plop (noun): A sound or action like liquid hitting a hard surface, or an object falling into a body of water.
- pole (noun): Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes.
- poll (noun): A survey of people, usually statistically analyzed to gauge wider public opinion.
- polo (noun): A ball game where two teams of players on horseback use long-handled mallets to propel the ball along the ground and into their opponent's goal.
- pool (noun): A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water.
- poop (verb): To make a short blast on a horn.
- pope (noun): An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state. Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority. Any similar head of a religion. A theocrat, a priest-king, including (at first especially) over the imaginary land of Prester John or (now) in figurative and alliterative uses. An effigy of the pope traditionally burnt in Britain on Guy Fawkes' Day and (occasionally) at other times. Pope Day, the present Guy Fawkes Day.
- poppa (noun): father, papa.