The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ACEHKMN

Friday, August 1, 2025

Words
29
Points
109
Genius
76
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 29 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • acne

    noun — A skin condition, usually of the face, that is common in adolescents. It is characterised by red pimples, and is caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands through bacterial infection.

    noun — A pattern of blemishes in an area of skin resulting from the skin condition.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • amen

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • ankh

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • cancan

    noun — A high-kicking chorus line dance originating in France.

    verb — To dance the cancan.

    noun — (motocross) A trick where one leg is brought over the seat, so that both legs are on one side.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • cane

    noun — A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof

    noun — The stem of such a plant adapted for use as a tool

    verb — To strike or beat with a cane or similar implement

    noun — A rod-shaped tool or device, somewhat like a cane

    noun — Split rattan, as used in wickerwork, basketry and the like

    verb — To make or furnish with cane or rattan.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • canna

    noun — Any member of the genus Canna of tropical plants with large leaves and often showy flowers.

    noun — A measure of length in Italy, varying from six to seven feet.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • chance

    noun — An opportunity or possibility.

    noun — Random occurrence; luck.

    noun — The probability of something happening.

    adjective — Happening by chance, casual.

    verb — To try or risk.

    verb — To happen by chance, to occur.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • enema

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • enhance

    verb — To augment or make something greater.

    verb — To improve something by adding features.

    verb — To lift, raise up.

    verb — To be raised up; to grow larger.

    verb — (radiology) To take up contrast agent (for an organ, tissue, or lesion).

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • hank

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • hence

    adverb — As a result; therefore, for this reason

    adverb — (of a length of time) in the future from now

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • henchman

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • henchmen

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • henna

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • keen

    adjective — Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.

    adjective — Having a fine edge or point; sharp.

    adjective — Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.

    adjective — Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.

    adjective — Fierce, intense, vehement.

    adjective — Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • khan

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • knack

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • knee

    noun — In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank.

    noun — The part of a garment that covers the knee.

    noun — An act of kneeling, especially to show respect or courtesy.

    verb — To poke or strike with the knee.

    verb — To move on the knees; to use the knees to move.

    noun — A blow made with the knee; a kneeing.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • mane

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • manna

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • mean

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • menace

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • naan

    noun — A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.

    Appeared in 30 recorded puzzles.

  • name

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • namecheck

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • nana

    noun — (term of endearment) one's grandmother

    noun — A banana

    noun — A fool

    noun — A nanny

    Appeared in 30 recorded puzzles.

  • nankeen

    noun — A type of cotton cloth originally from Nanking in China.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • neck

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • nene

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 23 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ac×1
  • am×1
  • an×1
  • ca×3
  • ch×1
  • en×2
  • ha×1
  • he×4
  • ke×1
  • kh×1
  • kn×2
  • ma×2
  • me×2
  • na×5
  • ne×2

Words by first letter and length

456789Σ
a 3····· 3
c 112··· 4
e ·1·1·· 2
h 12··2· 5
k 31···· 4
m 211··· 4
n 5··1·1 7
Σ 1563221 29

The numbers

Genius today takes 76 points of 109 available. The average answer runs 5.1 letters.

Total points vs. all 378 recorded puzzles
8th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
12th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17142 recorded answers

415 today34.5% all-time56 today22.8% all-time63 today20.0% all-time72 today12.1% all-time82 today6.3% all-time91 today2.5% all-time101.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Thursday, July 31, 2025 Saturday, July 19, 2025
c Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Wednesday, July 30, 2025
e Wednesday, July 30, 2025 first recorded time
h Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Tuesday, July 22, 2025
k Monday, July 28, 2025 first recorded time
m Monday, July 28, 2025 Friday, July 25, 2025
n ● Thursday, July 31, 2025 Monday, July 28, 2025

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 41
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 28
  5. toot 27
  6. loll 27
  7. mama 24
  8. mamma 24
  9. cocoon 23
  10. nene 23
  11. acacia 22
  12. acai 22
  13. bill 22
  14. loon 22
  15. aria 21
  16. onto 21
  17. toon 21
  18. cancan 21
  19. canna 21
  20. neon 21
  21. none 21
  22. olio 21
  23. anon 20
  24. lull 19
  25. lulu 19

Valid words the Bee rejected

Dictionary words the Bee never takes

Legitimate words (per the ENABLE list) that fit the letters but aren't official answers — usually judged too obscure.