NYT Spelling Bee Answers for October 21, 2026
Today's NYT Spelling Bee uses center letter L with outer letters A, D, I, P, R, Y. The puzzle contains 56 words worth 244 points, including 2 pangrams. The longest word is 10 letters. To reach Genius you need 171 points; Queen Bee requires all 244 points. Today is not a bingo — at least one letter starts no words. Compared with the eight-year average of about 184 points per puzzle, this is a larger-than-average day.
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, d, i, p, r, y |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 56 words |
| Total Points | 244 points |
| Genius Level | 171 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 | 10 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 7 |
| D | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 10 |
| I | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| L | 7 | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 10 |
| P | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 16 |
| R | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 9 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 22 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 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 | AI×2 AL×2 AP×2 AR×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DA×3 DI×5 DR×2 |
| I | ID×3 IL×1 |
| L | LA×5 LI×5 |
| P | PA×11 PI×3 PL×2 |
| R | RA×5 RI×4 |
| Y |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | AIR×2 ALL×2 APP×2 ARI×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DAI×1 DAL×1 DAY×1 DIA×1 DID×1 DIL×3 DRI×1 DRY×1 |
| I | IDL×1 IDY×2 ILL×1 |
| L | LAD×1 LAI×2 LAP×1 LAR×1 LIA×1 LIL×1 LIP×2 LIR×1 |
| P | PAI×1 PAL×5 PAP×4 PAR×1 PID×1 PIL×2 PLA×2 |
| R | RAD×2 RAI×1 RAL×1 RAP×1 RIA×1 RIL×1 RIP×1 RIY×1 |
| Y |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| la...... † | LA8 | A person who cuts, polishes, engraves, or deals in gems. |
| ra..... † | RA7 | With speed; in a rapid manner. |
| ai.... | AI6 | In an airy manner. |
| ai..... | AI7 | The playing of a particular song, band or genre on the radio, or the frequency with which it is played. |
| al... | AL5 | To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm. |
| 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.... | AP6 | To fill with horror; to dismay. |
| ap... | AP5 | To lay or place; to put (one thing to another) |
| ar.. | AR4 | A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates. |
| da... | DA5 | That occurs every day, or at least every working day |
| da... | DA5 | To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle. |
| da..... | DA7 | Any of several perennial plants, of the genus Hemerocallis, that have fleshy roots, grasslike leaves and colourful flowers that bloom for just one day. |
| di.. | DI4 | A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed). |
| di.... | DI6 | A small amount of no worth. |
| di.. | DI4 | Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed. |
| di... | DI5 | Redolent of dill (the herb). |
| di........ | DI10 | Alternative spelling of dilly-dally |
| dr... | DR5 | To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool). |
| dr... | DR5 | In a dry manner. |
| id.. | ID4 | Without specific purpose, intent or effort. |
| id.. | ID4 | Alternative spelling of idyll |
| id... | ID5 | Any poem or short written piece composed in the style of Theocritus' short pastoral poems, the Idylls. |
| il.. | IL4 | Badly; poorly. |
| la.. | LA4 | The mistress of a household. |
| la.. | LA4 | simple past tense and past participle of lay |
| la.. | LA4 | A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground. |
| la.. | LA4 | Fat from the abdomen of a pig, especially as prepared for use in cooking or pharmacy. |
| li.. | LI4 | One who frequently tells lies. |
| li.. | LI4 | Any of several flowers in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae, which includes a great many ornamental species. |
| li... | LI5 | Any of a group of organic compounds including the fats, oils, waxes, sterols, and triglycerides. Lipids are characterized by being insoluble in water, and account for most of the fat present in the human body. |
| li... | LI5 | Having prominent lips. |
| li.. | LI4 | The basic unit of currency in Turkey. |
| pa.. | PA4 | A vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover). |
| pa.... | PA6 | An open-sided dwelling with a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves. |
| pa.. | PA4 | Senses relating to cloth. Fine cloth, especially purple cloth used for robes. A heavy cloth laid over a coffin or tomb; a shroud laid over a corpse. A piece of cardboard, covered with linen and embroidered on one side, used to cover the chalice during the Eucharist. A cloth used for various purposes on the altar in a church, such as a corporal (“cloth on which elements of the Eucharist are placed”) or frontal (“drapery covering the front of an altar”). |
| pa.... | PA6 | Appearing weak, pale, or wan. |
| pa...... | PA8 | In a pallid manner. |
| pa.. | PA4 | Synonym of pedipalp. |
| pa... | PA5 | Having to do with the pope or the papacy. |
| pa..... | PA7 | in papal fashion |
| pa..... | PA7 | A nipple-like protuberance on a part or organ of the body. A vascular process of connective tissue extending into and nourishing the root of a hair, feather, or developing tooth. Any of the vascular protuberances of the dermal layer of the skin extending into the epidermal layer and often containing tactile corpuscles. Any of the small protuberances on the upper surface of the tongue often containing taste buds. |
| pa....... | PA9 | Having the properties or appearance of a papilla (nipple). |
| pa.... | PA6 | To carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers. |
| pi.... | PI6 | Small, inconsequential, or not worth spending time on. |
| pi.. | PI4 | A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication. |
| pi.... | PI6 | A large post, often used as supporting architecture. |
| pl... | PL5 | A type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern. |
| pl.. | PL4 | To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment. |
| ra.... | RA6 | Arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to a common centre. |
| ra...... | RA8 | In a radial manner, outward from a center. |
| ra.. | RA4 | A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing. |
| ra... | RA5 | A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause. |
| ri.. | RI4 | The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen. |
| ri.. | RI4 | A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet. |
| ri.... | RI6 | Having ripples. |
| ri... | RI5 | The official currency of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. |
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.
- lapidary† (LA8)
- rapidly† (RA7)
- airily (AI6)
- airplay (AI7)
- allay (AL5)
- ally (AL4)
- appall (AP6)
- apply (AP5)
- aril (AR4)
- daily (DA5)
- dally (DA5)
- daylily (DA7)
- dial (DI4)
- diddly (DI6)
- dill (DI4)
- dilly (DI5)
- dillydally (DI10)
- drill (DR5)
- dryly (DR5)
- idly (ID4)
- idyl (ID4)
- idyll (ID5)
- illy (IL4)
- lady (LA4)
- laid (LA4)
- lair (LA4)
- lard (LA4)
- liar (LI4)
- lily (LI4)
- lipid (LI5)
- lippy (LI5)
- lira (LI4)
- pail (PA4)
- palapa (PA6)
- pall (PA4)
- pallid (PA6)
- pallidly (PA8)
- palp (PA4)
- papal (PA5)
- papally (PA7)
- papilla (PA7)
- papillary (PA9)
- parlay (PA6)
- piddly (PI6)
- pill (PI4)
- pillar (PI6)
- plaid (PL5)
- play (PL4)
- radial (RA6)
- radially (RA8)
- rail (RA4)
- rally (RA5)
- rial (RI4)
- rill (RI4)
- ripply (RI6)
- riyal (RI5)
Answer Definitions
- lapidary† (noun): A person who cuts, polishes, engraves, or deals in gems.
- rapidly† (adverb): With speed; in a rapid manner.
- airily (adverb): In an airy manner.
- airplay (noun): The playing of a particular song, band or genre on the radio, or the frequency with which it is played.
- allay (verb): To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.
- 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.
- appall (verb): To fill with horror; to dismay.
- apply (verb): To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
- aril (noun): A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates.
- daily (adjective): That occurs every day, or at least every working day
- dally (verb): To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
- daylily (noun): Any of several perennial plants, of the genus Hemerocallis, that have fleshy roots, grasslike leaves and colourful flowers that bloom for just one day.
- dial (noun): A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
- diddly (noun): A small amount of no worth.
- dill (noun): Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed.
- dilly (adjective): Redolent of dill (the herb).
- dillydally (verb): Alternative spelling of dilly-dally
- drill (verb): To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool).
- dryly (adverb): In a dry manner.
- idly (adverb): Without specific purpose, intent or effort.
- idyl (noun): Alternative spelling of idyll
- idyll (noun): Any poem or short written piece composed in the style of Theocritus' short pastoral poems, the Idylls.
- illy (adverb): Badly; poorly.
- lady (noun): The mistress of a household.
- laid (verb): simple past tense and past participle of lay
- lair (noun): A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground.
- lard (noun): Fat from the abdomen of a pig, especially as prepared for use in cooking or pharmacy.
- liar (noun): One who frequently tells lies.
- lily (noun): Any of several flowers in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae, which includes a great many ornamental species.
- lipid (noun): Any of a group of organic compounds including the fats, oils, waxes, sterols, and triglycerides. Lipids are characterized by being insoluble in water, and account for most of the fat present in the human body.
- lippy (adjective): Having prominent lips.
- lira (noun): The basic unit of currency in Turkey.
- pail (noun): A vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover).
- palapa (noun): An open-sided dwelling with a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves.
- pall (noun): Senses relating to cloth. Fine cloth, especially purple cloth used for robes. A heavy cloth laid over a coffin or tomb; a shroud laid over a corpse. A piece of cardboard, covered with linen and embroidered on one side, used to cover the chalice during the Eucharist. A cloth used for various purposes on the altar in a church, such as a corporal (“cloth on which elements of the Eucharist are placed”) or frontal (“drapery covering the front of an altar”).
- pallid (adjective): Appearing weak, pale, or wan.
- pallidly (adverb): In a pallid manner.
- palp (noun): Synonym of pedipalp.
- papal (adjective): Having to do with the pope or the papacy.
- papally (adverb): in papal fashion
- papilla (noun): A nipple-like protuberance on a part or organ of the body. A vascular process of connective tissue extending into and nourishing the root of a hair, feather, or developing tooth. Any of the vascular protuberances of the dermal layer of the skin extending into the epidermal layer and often containing tactile corpuscles. Any of the small protuberances on the upper surface of the tongue often containing taste buds.
- papillary (adjective): Having the properties or appearance of a papilla (nipple).
- parlay (verb): To carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers.
- piddly (adjective): Small, inconsequential, or not worth spending time on.
- pill (noun): A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication.
- pillar (noun): A large post, often used as supporting architecture.
- plaid (noun): A type of twilled woollen cloth, often with a tartan or chequered pattern.
- play (verb): To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
- radial (adjective): Arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to a common centre.
- radially (adverb): In a radial manner, outward from a center.
- rail (noun): A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
- rally (noun): A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
- rial (noun): The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen.
- rill (noun): A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet.
- ripply (adjective): Having ripples.
- riyal (noun): The official currency of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.