NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 17, 2026
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, c, d, o, r, t |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 54 words |
| Total Points | 212 points |
| Genius Level | 148 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 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 6 |
| C | 9 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | - | 22 |
| D | 2 | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 7 |
| L | 6 | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | 9 |
| O | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| R | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| T | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 7 | Σ | 25 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 54 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×4 AO×1 AT×1 |
|---|---|
| C | CA×7 CL×4 CO×11 |
| D | DO×5 DR×2 |
| L | LA×1 LO×8 |
| O | OC×1 OR×1 |
| R | RO×1 |
| T | TA×2 TO×4 TR×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALL×2 ALT×2 AOR×1 ATO×1 |
|---|---|
| C | CAL×3 CAR×3 CAT×1 CLA×1 CLO×3 COA×1 COL×6 COO×1 COR×3 |
| D | DOC×1 DOL×4 DRO×2 |
| L | LAR×1 LOA×1 LOC×3 LOL×1 LOO×1 LOR×1 LOT×1 |
| O | OCT×1 ORA×1 |
| R | ROL×1 |
| T | TAL×2 TOL×2 TOO×1 TOT×1 TRO×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ca...... † | CA8 | The amount that a cart can carry. |
| do...... † | DO8 | Relating to a doctorate. |
| al....... | AL9 | One who, or that which, allocates. |
| al... | AL5 | To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot. |
| al... | AL5 | A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites. |
| al.. | AL4 | A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody. |
| ao.... | AO6 | Of or relating to the aorta. |
| at... | AT5 | a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls |
| ca.. | CA4 | A telephone conversation; a phone call. |
| ca... | CA5 | A marsh plant native to cooler areas throughout the northern hemisphere, Calla palustris, having pale green flowers in a white spathe. |
| ca...... | CA8 | Any of various tropical plants grown in the Americas, especially of the genera Amaranthus and Xanthosoma, cultivated for their edible leaves. |
| ca..... | CA7 | The contents of an automobile (passengers, supplies, etc.) for one trip. |
| ca... | CA5 | A round dance accompanied by singing. |
| ca..... | CA7 | A shout or whistle expressing dislike, especially from a crowd or audience; a jeer, a boo. |
| cl.. | CL4 | simple past tense and past participle of clothe |
| cl.... | CL6 | A sewer. |
| cl.. | CL4 | A lump of something, especially of earth or clay. |
| cl.. | CL4 | A thrombus, solidified mass of blood. |
| co.. | CO4 | A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel. |
| co.. | CO4 | The kola plant, genus Cola, famous for its nut, or one of these nuts. |
| co.. | CO4 | Having a low temperature. |
| co.... | CO6 | Clothes that encircle the neck. The part of an upper garment (shirt, jacket, etc.) that fits around the neck and throat, especially if sewn from a separate piece of fabric. A decorative band or other fabric around the neckline. A chain worn around the neck. A similar detachable item. A coloured ring round the neck of a bird or mammal. A band or chain around an animal's neck, used to restrain and/or identify it. |
| co..... | CO7 | A Mediterranean variety of kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala. |
| co... | CO5 | The spectral composition of visible light. |
| co.. | CO4 | A young male horse. |
| co.. | CO4 | Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold. |
| co... | CO5 | Any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a colony belonging to one of those species. |
| co..... | CO7 | An outermost-but-one whorl of a flower, composed of petals, when it is not the same in appearance as the outermost whorl (the calyx); it usually comprises the petal, which may be fused. |
| co.... | CO6 | An enclosure for livestock, especially a circular one. |
| do.. | DO4 | A toy in the form of a human. |
| do.... | DO6 | Official designation for currency in some parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. Its symbol is $. |
| do... | DO5 | Alternative spelling of dolour |
| do.. | DO4 | A stupid person; a blockhead or dullard. |
| dr... | DR5 | Oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish. |
| dr... | DR5 | To secrete saliva, especially in anticipation of food. |
| la.. | LA4 | Fat from the abdomen of a pig, especially as prepared for use in cooking or pharmacy. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A burden; a weight to be carried. |
| lo... | LO5 | From or in a nearby location. |
| lo..... | LO7 | One who, or that which, locates. |
| 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.. | LO4 | A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks. |
| lo.. | LO4 | The master of the servants of a household; the master of a feudal manor The male head of a household, a father or husband. The owner of a house, piece of land, or other possession |
| lo... | LO5 | a game of chance similar to bingo |
| oc... | OC5 | The number system that uses the eight digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. |
| or.. | OR4 | Relating to the mouth. |
| ro.. | RO4 | To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Originally a large range of transparent or glistening foliated minerals. Examples include mica, selenite and the hydrated magnesium silicate that the term talc generally has referred to in modern times (see below). Also an item made of such a mineral and depending for its function on the special nature of the mineral (see next). Mediaeval writers adopted the term from the Arabic. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall. |
| to.. | TO4 | simple past tense and past participle of tell |
| to.. | TO4 | Loss or damage incurred through a disaster. |
| to.. | TO4 | A mechanical device intended to make a task easier. |
| to... | TO5 | An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts. |
| tr... | TR5 | A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges. |
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.
- cartload† (CA8)
- doctoral† (DO8)
- allocator (AL9)
- allot (AL5)
- altar (AL5)
- alto (AL4)
- aortal (AO6)
- atoll (AT5)
- call (CA4)
- calla (CA5)
- callaloo (CA8)
- carload (CA7)
- carol (CA5)
- catcall (CA7)
- clad (CL4)
- cloaca (CL6)
- clod (CL4)
- clot (CL4)
- coal (CO4)
- cola (CO4)
- cold (CO4)
- collar (CO6)
- collard (CO7)
- color (CO5)
- colt (CO4)
- cool (CO4)
- coral (CO5)
- corolla (CO7)
- corral (CO6)
- doll (DO4)
- dollar (DO6)
- dolor (DO5)
- dolt (DO4)
- droll (DR5)
- drool (DR5)
- lard (LA4)
- load (LO4)
- local (LO5)
- locator (LO7)
- loco (LO4)
- loll (LO4)
- loot (LO4)
- lord (LO4)
- lotto (LO5)
- octal (OC5)
- oral (OR4)
- roll (RO4)
- talc (TA4)
- tall (TA4)
- told (TO4)
- toll (TO4)
- tool (TO4)
- total (TO5)
- troll (TR5)
Answer Definitions
- cartload† (noun): The amount that a cart can carry.
- doctoral† (adjective): Relating to a doctorate.
- allocator (noun): One who, or that which, allocates.
- allot (verb): To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot.
- altar (noun): A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
- alto (noun): A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
- aortal (adjective): Of or relating to the aorta.
- atoll (noun): a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls
- call (noun): A telephone conversation; a phone call.
- calla (noun): A marsh plant native to cooler areas throughout the northern hemisphere, Calla palustris, having pale green flowers in a white spathe.
- callaloo (noun): Any of various tropical plants grown in the Americas, especially of the genera Amaranthus and Xanthosoma, cultivated for their edible leaves.
- carload (noun): The contents of an automobile (passengers, supplies, etc.) for one trip.
- carol (noun): A round dance accompanied by singing.
- catcall (noun): A shout or whistle expressing dislike, especially from a crowd or audience; a jeer, a boo.
- clad (verb): simple past tense and past participle of clothe
- cloaca (noun): A sewer.
- clod (noun): A lump of something, especially of earth or clay.
- clot (noun): A thrombus, solidified mass of blood.
- coal (noun): A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
- cola (noun): The kola plant, genus Cola, famous for its nut, or one of these nuts.
- cold (adjective): Having a low temperature.
- collar (noun): Clothes that encircle the neck. The part of an upper garment (shirt, jacket, etc.) that fits around the neck and throat, especially if sewn from a separate piece of fabric. A decorative band or other fabric around the neckline. A chain worn around the neck. A similar detachable item. A coloured ring round the neck of a bird or mammal. A band or chain around an animal's neck, used to restrain and/or identify it.
- collard (noun): A Mediterranean variety of kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala.
- color (noun): The spectral composition of visible light.
- colt (noun): A young male horse.
- cool (adjective): Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
- coral (noun): Any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a colony belonging to one of those species.
- corolla (noun): An outermost-but-one whorl of a flower, composed of petals, when it is not the same in appearance as the outermost whorl (the calyx); it usually comprises the petal, which may be fused.
- corral (noun): An enclosure for livestock, especially a circular one.
- doll (noun): A toy in the form of a human.
- dollar (noun): Official designation for currency in some parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. Its symbol is $.
- dolor (noun): Alternative spelling of dolour
- dolt (noun): A stupid person; a blockhead or dullard.
- droll (adjective): Oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish.
- drool (verb): To secrete saliva, especially in anticipation of food.
- lard (noun): Fat from the abdomen of a pig, especially as prepared for use in cooking or pharmacy.
- load (noun): A burden; a weight to be carried.
- local (adjective): From or in a nearby location.
- locator (noun): One who, or that which, locates.
- 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.
- loot (noun): A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
- lord (noun): The master of the servants of a household; the master of a feudal manor The male head of a household, a father or husband. The owner of a house, piece of land, or other possession
- lotto (noun): a game of chance similar to bingo
- octal (noun): The number system that uses the eight digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- oral (adjective): Relating to the mouth.
- roll (verb): To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface.
- talc (noun): Originally a large range of transparent or glistening foliated minerals. Examples include mica, selenite and the hydrated magnesium silicate that the term talc generally has referred to in modern times (see below). Also an item made of such a mineral and depending for its function on the special nature of the mineral (see next). Mediaeval writers adopted the term from the Arabic.
- tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
- told (verb): simple past tense and past participle of tell
- toll (noun): Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
- tool (noun): A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
- total (noun): An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.
- troll (noun): A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.