The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

CDLOTYI

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Words
41
Points
168
Genius
117
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 41 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • city

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • cocci

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • codicil

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • coil

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • colic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • colloid

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • cyclic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • diddly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • dildo

    noun — An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use.

    noun — An idiot, a bore.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • dill

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • dilly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • ditto

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • ditty

    noun — A short verse or tune.

    verb — To sing; to warble a little tune.

    noun — A saying or utterance, especially one that is short and frequently repeated.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • docility

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • doily

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • icily

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • idiocy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • idiot

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • idiotic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • idly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • idol

    noun — A cultural icon, or especially popular person.

    noun — (originally Japan) Popular entertainer; usually young, captivating, attractive; and often female, with an image of being close to fans.

    noun — A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.

    noun — An eidolon or phantom; something misleading or elusive.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • idyl

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • idyll

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • idyllic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • illicit

    noun — A banned or unlawful item.

    adjective — Not approved by law, but not invalid.

    adjective — Breaking social norms.

    adjective — Unlawful.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • illicitly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • illy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • itty

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • licit

    adjective — Not forbidden by formal or informal rules.

    adjective — Explicitly established or constituted by law.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • licitly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • lilt

    noun — A cheerful or melodious accent when speaking.

    noun — Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.

    noun — A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.

    verb — To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.

    verb — To utter with spirit, animation, or gaiety; to sing with spirit and liveliness.

    verb — To sing cheerfully, especially in Gaelic.

    Appeared in 20 recorded puzzles.

  • lily

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • loci

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • oddity

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • oily

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • olio

    noun — A medley or mixture; a hotchpotch.

    noun — A collection of various musical, theatrical or other artistic works; a miscellany.

    noun — A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables.

    noun — (by extension) Vaudeville or similar miscellaneous musical or theatrical entertainment skits presented between the main acts of burlesque or minstrel shows.

    Appeared in 22 recorded puzzles.

  • tidily

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • tidy

    noun — A tabletop container for pens and stationery.

    verb — To make tidy; to neaten.

    adjective — Arranged neatly and in order.

    interjection — Expression of positive agreement, usually in reply to a question.

    noun — A cover, often of tatting, drawn work, or other ornamental work, for the back of a chair, the arms of a sofa, etc.

    noun — A child's pinafore.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • till

    preposition — Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).

    conjunction — Until, until the time that.

    noun — A cash register.

    noun — A removable box within a cash register containing the money.

    noun — The contents of a cash register, for example at the beginning or end of the day or of a cashier's shift.

    verb — To work or cultivate or plough (soil); to prepare for growing vegetation and crops.

    Appeared in 20 recorded puzzles.

  • tilt

    verb — To slope or incline (something); to slant.

    verb — To be at an angle.

    noun — A slope or inclination.

    noun — The inclination of part of the body, such as backbone, pelvis, head, etc.

    verb — To play worse than usual (often as a result of previous bad luck or losses).

    noun — The controlled vertical movement of a camera, or a device to achieve this.

    Appeared in 20 recorded puzzles.

  • toil

    noun — Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature.

    verb — To labour; work.

    noun — Trouble, strife.

    noun — (usually in plural) A net or snare; any thread, web, or string spread for taking prey.

    verb — To struggle.

    verb — To work (something); often with out.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ci×1
  • co×5
  • cy×1
  • di×6
  • do×2
  • ic×1
  • id×8
  • il×3
  • it×1
  • li×4
  • lo×1
  • od×1
  • oi×1
  • ol×1
  • ti×4
  • to×1

Words by first letter and length

456789Σ
c 2212·· 7
d 151·1· 8
i 5313·1 13
l 31·1·· 5
o 2·1··· 3
t 4·1··· 5
Σ 17115611 41

The numbers

Genius today takes 117 points of 168 available. The average answer runs 5.2 letters.

Total points vs. all 382 recorded puzzles
32nd percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
39th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17315 recorded answers

417 today34.6% all-time511 today22.8% all-time65 today19.9% all-time76 today12.1% all-time81 today6.3% all-time91 today2.6% 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
c Monday, December 22, 2025 Tuesday, December 2, 2025
d Monday, December 22, 2025 Thursday, December 4, 2025
i ● Friday, December 19, 2025 Thursday, December 18, 2025
l Monday, December 22, 2025 Tuesday, December 9, 2025
o Sunday, December 21, 2025 Saturday, December 6, 2025
t Sunday, December 21, 2025 Sunday, December 21, 2025
y Thursday, December 11, 2025 Thursday, December 11, 2025

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 42
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 29
  5. toot 28
  6. loll 28
  7. mama 25
  8. mamma 25
  9. cocoon 23
  10. loon 23
  11. nene 23
  12. acacia 22
  13. acai 22
  14. bill 22
  15. neon 22
  16. none 22
  17. olio 22
  18. aria 21
  19. onto 21
  20. toon 21
  21. cancan 21
  22. canna 21
  23. lilt 20
  24. till 20
  25. tilt 20

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.