The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

DELMNUP

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Words
56
Points
269
Genius
188
Pangram
1

Official answers

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Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • deep

    adjective — (of a physical distance) Extending far away from a point of reference, especially downwards.

    adjective — (sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).

    adjective — (sound, voice) Low in pitch.

    adjective — Immersed, submerged (in).

    adjective — (of a color) Highly saturated.

    adjective — (intellectual, social) Complex, involved.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • deepen

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • deepened

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • depend

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • depended

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • dump

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • dumped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • dupe

    verb — To swindle, deceive, or trick.

    noun — A person who has been deceived.

    noun — A duplicate.

    verb — To duplicate.

    noun — A duplicate of a photographic image.

    noun — (restaurant industry) A duplicate of an order receipt printed for kitchen staff.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • duped

    verb — To swindle, deceive, or trick.

    verb — To duplicate.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • duple

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • epee

    noun — A sharp-pointed dueling sword with a bell-shaped guard, used (with the end blunted) in sport fencing.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • lump

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • lumped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • peddle

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • peddled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • peed

    verb — To urinate.

    verb — (mildly vulgar) To drizzle.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • peel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • peeled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • peen

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • peep

    verb — To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.

    noun — A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.

    noun — A quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird.

    verb — To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.

    noun — A feeble utterance or complaint.

    verb — To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • peeped

    verb — To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.

    verb — To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.

    verb — To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.

    verb — To speak briefly with a quiet voice.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • pend

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • pended

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • pendulum

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • penmen

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • penne

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • penned

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • peplum

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • pepped

    verb — To inject with energy and enthusiasm.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • pled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plenum

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plum

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plume

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plumed

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plump

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plumped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • puddle

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • puddled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pule

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • puled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pull

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • pulled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pulp

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • pulped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pummel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • pummeled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • pump

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • pumped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • punned

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • umped

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unpeeled

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • unpen

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • unpenned

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • upend

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • upended

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • upped

    verb — To increase or raise.

    verb — (usually in combination with another verb) To act suddenly.

    verb — To promote.

    verb — To upload.

    verb — To ascend; to climb up.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • de×5
  • du×5
  • ep×1
  • lu×2
  • pe×16
  • pl×7
  • pu×13
  • um×1
  • un×3
  • up×3

Words by first letter and length

45678Σ
d 323·2 10
e 1···· 1
l 1·1·· 2
p 1141632 36
u ·4·12 7
Σ 16102046 56

The numbers

Genius today takes 188 points of 269 available. The average answer runs 5.5 letters.

Total points vs. all 378 recorded puzzles
76th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
73rd percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17142 recorded answers

416 today34.5% all-time510 today22.8% all-time620 today20.0% all-time74 today12.1% all-time86 today6.3% all-time92.5% 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
d Tuesday, December 30, 2025 Thursday, December 4, 2025
e Friday, January 2, 2026 Friday, December 5, 2025
l Sunday, January 4, 2026 Tuesday, December 9, 2025
m Sunday, January 4, 2026 Tuesday, November 18, 2025
n Monday, January 5, 2026 Friday, January 2, 2026
p ● Tuesday, December 30, 2025 Wednesday, December 24, 2025
u Saturday, January 3, 2026 Saturday, December 27, 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.