NYT Spelling Bee Answers for January 17, 2026
Game Summary
| Center Letter | Y |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, l, o, p, r, t |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 59 words |
| Total Points | 292 points |
| Genius Level | 204 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 | 2 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 8 |
| L | - | 3 | - | 2 | - | - | 5 |
| O | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| P | 4 | 8 | 7 | 3 | - | 1 | 23 |
| R | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 10 |
| T | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 9 |
| Y | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | Σ | 12 | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 59 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×3 AP×2 AR×3 |
|---|---|
| L | LO×5 |
| O | OA×1 OR×2 |
| P | PA×12 PL×2 PO×7 PR×1 PY×1 |
| R | RA×4 RO×6 |
| T | TA×4 TO×1 TR×2 TY×2 |
| Y | YA×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALL×3 APP×1 APT×1 ARR×2 ART×1 |
|---|---|
| L | LOO×1 LOR×1 LOY×3 |
| O | OAT×1 ORA×2 |
| P | PAL×1 PAP×3 PAR×4 PAT×2 PAY×2 PLA×1 PLO×1 POL×1 POO×1 POP×1 POR×3 POT×1 PRA×1 PYR×1 |
| R | RAL×1 RAP×1 RAT×2 ROP×1 ROT×2 ROY×3 |
| T | TAL×1 TAR×2 TAT×1 TOT×1 TRA×1 TRO×1 TYP×1 TYR×1 |
| Y | YAP×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) |
|---|---|---|
| po....... † | PO9 | The act of portraying. |
| al... | AL5 | To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm. |
| al... | AL5 | A metal that is a combination of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal. |
| al.. | AL4 | To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. |
| ap... | AP5 | To lay or place; to put (one thing to another) |
| ap... | AP5 | In an apt or suitable manner; fittingly; appropriately; suitably |
| ar... | AR5 | an ordered series or arrangement. |
| ar.... | AR6 | A dry creek or streambed, a gulch which temporarily or seasonally fills and flows (after sufficient rain). |
| ar.. | AR4 | Inclined toward paintings, music, etc. |
| lo... | LO5 | Having loops. |
| lo... | LO5 | A heavier motor vehicle designed to carry goods or to pull a semi-trailer designed to carry goods |
| lo... | LO5 | Having or demonstrating undivided and constant support for someone or something. |
| lo..... | LO7 | In a loyal manner, faithfully. |
| lo..... | LO7 | The state of being loyal; fidelity. |
| oa.. | OA4 | Containing oats. |
| or.... | OR6 | By mouth. |
| or..... | OR7 | A private chapel or prayer room. |
| pa.... | PA6 | Trashy, trivial, of little value. |
| pa..... | PA7 | in papal fashion |
| pa.... | PA6 | A tropical American evergreen tree, Carica papaya, having large, yellow, edible fruit |
| pa... | PA5 | Like pap; soft; mushy. |
| pa.... | PA6 | To carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers. |
| pa... | PA5 | To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.). |
| pa.... | PA6 | In part, or to some degree, but not completely. |
| pa... | PA5 | A person or group of people constituting a particular side in a contract or legal action. |
| pa... | PA5 | In a pat manner; fitly, seasonably, conveniently, appositely. |
| pa... | PA5 | A flattened portion of ground meat or a vegetarian equivalent, usually round but sometimes square in shape. |
| pa.... | PA6 | A bribe given in exchange for a favor, such as one given in exchange for the promotion of goods or services (originally one given to a disk jockey to play a record). |
| pa..... | PA7 | A list of employees who receive salary or wages, together with the amounts due to each. |
| pl.. | PL4 | To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. |
| pl.. | PL4 | A tactic, strategy, or scheme. |
| po... | PO5 | An abnormal growth protruding from a mucous membrane. |
| po.... | PO6 | In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort. |
| po... | PO5 | Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially the common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant. |
| po.... | PO6 | Somewhat fat, pudgy, overweight. |
| po..... | PO7 | To paint or draw the likeness of. |
| po... | PO5 | A chamber pot, particularly the pot used when toilet-training children. |
| pr.. | PR4 | To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to God or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc. |
| py.. | PY4 | A pyromaniac. |
| ra... | RA5 | A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause. |
| ra.... | RA6 | in a rapt manner |
| ra.... | RA6 | That rattles. |
| ra... | RA5 | Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent. |
| ro.. | RO4 | Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch. |
| ro.... | RO6 | Capable of rotation. |
| ro...... | RO8 | of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational |
| ro... | RO5 | Of or relating to a monarch or their family. |
| ro..... | RO7 | In a royal manner; in a manner having to do with royalty. |
| ro..... | RO7 | The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch. |
| ta... | TA5 | Target sighted. |
| ta... | TA5 | To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything. |
| ta.... | TA6 | In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly. |
| ta... | TA5 | worn and shabby; in poor condition. |
| to..... | TO7 | To the fullest extent or degree. |
| tr.. | TR4 | A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried. |
| tr.. | TR4 | Of, or relating to, troy weight. |
| ty.. | TY4 | A typographical error. |
| ty.. | TY4 | A beginner; a novice. |
| ya... | YA5 | Of a dog, yapping in an annoying manner. |
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.
- portrayal† (PO9)
- allay (AL5)
- alloy (AL5)
- ally (AL4)
- apply (AP5)
- aptly (AP5)
- array (AR5)
- arroyo (AR6)
- arty (AR4)
- loopy (LO5)
- lorry (LO5)
- loyal (LO5)
- loyally (LO7)
- loyalty (LO7)
- oaty (OA4)
- orally (OR6)
- oratory (OR7)
- paltry (PA6)
- papally (PA7)
- papaya (PA6)
- pappy (PA5)
- parlay (PA6)
- parry (PA5)
- partly (PA6)
- party (PA5)
- patly (PA5)
- patty (PA5)
- payola (PA6)
- payroll (PA7)
- play (PL4)
- ploy (PL4)
- polyp (PO5)
- poorly (PO6)
- poppy (PO5)
- portly (PO6)
- portray (PO7)
- potty (PO5)
- pray (PR4)
- pyro (PY4)
- rally (RA5)
- raptly (RA6)
- rattly (RA6)
- ratty (RA5)
- ropy (RO4)
- rotary (RO6)
- rotatory (RO8)
- royal (RO5)
- royally (RO7)
- royalty (RO7)
- tally (TA5)
- tarry (TA5)
- tartly (TA6)
- tatty (TA5)
- totally (TO7)
- tray (TR4)
- troy (TR4)
- typo (TY4)
- tyro (TY4)
- yappy (YA5)
Answer Definitions
- portrayal† (noun): The act of portraying.
- allay (verb): To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.
- alloy (noun): A metal that is a combination of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal.
- ally (verb): To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty.
- apply (verb): To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
- aptly (adverb): In an apt or suitable manner; fittingly; appropriately; suitably
- array (noun): an ordered series or arrangement.
- arroyo (noun): A dry creek or streambed, a gulch which temporarily or seasonally fills and flows (after sufficient rain).
- arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
- loopy (adjective): Having loops.
- lorry (noun): A heavier motor vehicle designed to carry goods or to pull a semi-trailer designed to carry goods
- loyal (adjective): Having or demonstrating undivided and constant support for someone or something.
- loyally (adverb): In a loyal manner, faithfully.
- loyalty (noun): The state of being loyal; fidelity.
- oaty (adjective): Containing oats.
- orally (adverb): By mouth.
- oratory (noun): A private chapel or prayer room.
- paltry (adjective): Trashy, trivial, of little value.
- papally (adverb): in papal fashion
- papaya (noun): A tropical American evergreen tree, Carica papaya, having large, yellow, edible fruit
- pappy (adjective): Like pap; soft; mushy.
- parlay (verb): To carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers.
- parry (verb): To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).
- partly (adverb): In part, or to some degree, but not completely.
- party (noun): A person or group of people constituting a particular side in a contract or legal action.
- patly (adverb): In a pat manner; fitly, seasonably, conveniently, appositely.
- patty (noun): A flattened portion of ground meat or a vegetarian equivalent, usually round but sometimes square in shape.
- payola (noun): A bribe given in exchange for a favor, such as one given in exchange for the promotion of goods or services (originally one given to a disk jockey to play a record).
- payroll (noun): A list of employees who receive salary or wages, together with the amounts due to each.
- play (verb): To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
- ploy (noun): A tactic, strategy, or scheme.
- polyp (noun): An abnormal growth protruding from a mucous membrane.
- poorly (adverb): In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
- poppy (noun): Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially the common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant.
- portly (adjective): Somewhat fat, pudgy, overweight.
- portray (verb): To paint or draw the likeness of.
- potty (noun): A chamber pot, particularly the pot used when toilet-training children.
- pray (verb): To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to God or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.
- pyro (noun): A pyromaniac.
- rally (noun): A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
- raptly (adverb): in a rapt manner
- rattly (adjective): That rattles.
- ratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
- ropy (adjective): Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.
- rotary (adjective): Capable of rotation.
- rotatory (adjective): of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational
- royal (adjective): Of or relating to a monarch or their family.
- royally (adverb): In a royal manner; in a manner having to do with royalty.
- royalty (noun): The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
- tally (interjection): Target sighted.
- tarry (verb): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
- tartly (adverb): In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
- tatty (noun): worn and shabby; in poor condition.
- totally (adverb): To the fullest extent or degree.
- tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
- troy (adjective): Of, or relating to, troy weight.
- typo (noun): A typographical error.
- tyro (noun): A beginner; a novice.
- yappy (adjective): Of a dog, yapping in an annoying manner.