The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

AIJNOTR

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Words
67
Points
325
Genius
227
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 67 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • ajar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • annotator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • aorta

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • aria

    noun — A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.

    Appeared in 21 recorded puzzles.

  • arrant

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • atria

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • attar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • attrition

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • initiator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • intro

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • iron

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • irritant

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • irritation

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • janitor

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • narration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • narrator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • nitro

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • noir

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • nonart

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • nori

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • notator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • oration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • orator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • oratorio

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • rain

    noun — Condensed water falling from a cloud.

    verb — To have rain fall from the sky.

    noun — Any matter moving or falling, usually through air, and especially if liquid or otherwise figuratively identifiable with raindrops.

    verb — To fall as or like rain.

    verb — To issue (something) in large quantities.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • raita

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • raja

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • rani

    noun — A Hindu princess or female ruler in India.

    noun — The wife of a rajah.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • rant

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • ratatat

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • ratio

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • ration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rattan

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • rioja

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • riot

    noun — Wanton or unrestrained behavior; uproar; tumult.

    verb — To create or take part in a riot; to raise an uproar or sedition.

    noun — The tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by an unlawful assembly of three or more persons in the execution of some private object.

    noun — A wide and unconstrained variety.

    noun — Excessive and expensive feasting; wild and loose festivity; revelry.

    verb — To act in an unrestrained or wanton manner; to indulge in excess of feasting, luxury, etc.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • roan

    noun — An animal such as a horse that has a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in.

    adjective — Especially of a horse, having a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in

    noun — The color of such an animal.

    noun — A kind of leather used for slippers, bookbinding, etc., made from sheepskin, tanned with sumac and colored to imitate ungrained morocco.

    noun — Sorbus aucuparia, the European rowan.

    noun — Any of various small deciduous trees or shrubs of genus Sorbus, belonging to the rose family, with pinnate leaves, corymbs of white flowers, and usually with orange-red berries.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • roar

    noun — A long, loud, deep shout, as of rage or laughter, made with the mouth wide open.

    verb — To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.

    verb — To laugh in a particularly loud manner.

    noun — A loud resounding noise.

    verb — Generally, of inanimate objects etc., to make a loud resounding noise.

    verb — Of animals (especially the lion), to make a loud deep noise.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • root

    noun — The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.

    verb — To grow roots; to enter the earth, as roots; to take root and begin to grow.

    noun — An act of sexual intercourse.

    verb — To turn up or dig with the snout.

    verb — (with "for" or "on") To cheer (on); to show support (for) and hope for the success of. (See root for.)

    noun — A root vegetable.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • rotation

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rotator

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • roti

    noun — A kind of unleavened flatbread commonly consumed in South Asia and the Caribbean.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • rotini

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rotor

    noun — A rotating part of a mechanical device, for example in an electric motor, generator, alternator or pump.

    noun — The wing of a helicopter or similar aircraft.

    noun — A quantity having magnitude, direction and position.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • tantara

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tantra

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tarnation

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • taro

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • tarot

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • tart

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • tartan

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • tartar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • tiara

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • titration

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • tori

    noun — A topological space which is a product of two circles.

    noun — One who executes a technique against the training partner, or uke.

    noun — The standard representation of such a space in 3-dimensional Euclidean space: a shape consisting of a ring with a circular cross-section: the shape of an inner tube or hollow doughnut.

    noun — (in combination, n-torus, 4-torus, etc.) The product of the specified number of circles.

    noun — A molding which projects at the base of a column and above the plinth.

    noun — The end of the peduncle or flower stalk to which the floral parts (or in the Asteraceae, the florets of a flower head) are attached; receptacle, thalamus.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • torii

    noun — A traditional Japanese gate at Shinto shrines, symbolically marking the transition from the profane to the sacred.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • torn

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • toro

    noun — A traditional Japanese lantern.

    noun — Rapanea salicina, a species of shrub or small tree native to New Zealand.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • tort

    noun — An injury or wrong.

    adjective — Tart; sharp.

    adjective — Stretched tight; taut.

    noun — A tortoise.

    noun — A tortoiseshell (animal with coloured markings on fur).

    noun — A wrongful act, whether intentional or negligent, which causes an injury and can be remedied in civil court, usually through the awarding of damages.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • torta

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • tortoni

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • train

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • trait

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • traitor

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • trattoria

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • trio

    noun — A group of three people or things.

    noun — A group of three musicians.

    noun — A piece of music written for three musicians.

    noun — A passage in the middle of a minuet, frequently in a different key.

    noun — Any cocktail made with a spirit, a liqueur, and a creamy ingredient.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • triton

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • trot

    noun — Any of several animals related to Equus ferus caballus.

    noun — Heroin (drug).

    noun — An ugly old woman, a hag.

    verb — To move along briskly; specifically, to move at a pace between a walk and a run.

    noun — A genre of Korean pop music employing repetitive rhythm and vocal inflections.

    noun — A supporter of Trotskyism.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

janitor is a perfect pangram — all seven letters, each used exactly once.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • aj×1
  • an×1
  • ao×1
  • ar×2
  • at×3
  • in×2
  • ir×3
  • ja×1
  • na×2
  • ni×1
  • no×4
  • or×3
  • ra×9
  • ri×2
  • ro×8
  • ta×8
  • ti×2
  • to×7
  • tr×7

Words by first letter and length

45678910Σ
a 231··2· 8
i 11··111 5
j ···1··· 1
n 211111· 7
o ··111·· 3
r 94321·· 19
t 8643·3· 24
Σ 2215108471 67

The numbers

Genius today takes 227 points of 325 available. The average answer runs 5.7 letters.

Total points vs. all 380 recorded puzzles
91st percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
95th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17231 recorded answers

422 today34.6% all-time515 today22.8% all-time610 today19.9% all-time78 today12.1% all-time84 today6.3% all-time97 today2.6% all-time101 today1.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Sunday, March 15, 2026 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
i Monday, March 16, 2026 Friday, March 13, 2026
j Thursday, March 5, 2026 first recorded time
n Monday, March 16, 2026 Monday, March 16, 2026
o Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Thursday, March 5, 2026
r ● Sunday, March 15, 2026 Saturday, March 14, 2026
t Friday, March 13, 2026 Monday, February 9, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 41
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 28
  5. toot 28
  6. loll 27
  7. mama 25
  8. mamma 25
  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. 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.