The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

DGHILNA

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Words
69
Points
362
Genius
253
Pangrams
3

Official answers

Show the 69 answersHide answers

Pangrams highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • adding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • addling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • again

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • aging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • aiding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • ailing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • alga

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • algal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • align

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • aligning

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • anal

    adjective — Of a person, compulsive and stubborn, obsessed with neatness and accuracy, supposedly from not having progressed beyond the anal stage.

    adjective — Of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.

    adjective — Of the stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is alleged to be concentrated on the anal region.

    noun — Anal sex.

    noun — Any of the anal scales of a reptile.

    adjective — (of a vein) Proximate to the thorax.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • angina

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • angling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • annal

    noun — The record of a single event or item.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • dahlia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • dandling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • dang

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • dangling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • dial

    noun — A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).

    noun — A clock face.

    verb — To control or select something with a dial, or (figuratively) as if with a dial.

    verb — To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone.

    noun — A sundial.

    noun — A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • dialing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • gadding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gaga

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 18 recorded puzzles.

  • gagging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • gain

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • gaining

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • gala

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • galangal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gall

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • galling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gang

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • ganging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • gangland

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • ganglia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gangling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • glad

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • gladhand

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • gladhanding

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • gland

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • glia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • haggling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • hail

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • hailing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • halal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • hall

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • hand

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • handing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • handling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • hang

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • hanging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • hangnail

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • highland

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • inhaling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • inlaid

    adjective — (of a design) Set into a surface in a decorative pattern.

    adjective — (of the surface of an item) Having an inset decorative pattern.

    verb — To place (pieces of a foreign material) within another material to form a decorative design.

    verb — To place an inlay in a tooth.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • inland

    noun — The interior part of a country.

    adverb — Into, or towards, the interior of the land, away from the coast.

    adjective — Within the land; relatively remote from the ocean or from open water; interior

    adjective — Limited to the land, or to inland routes; within the seashore boundary; not passing on, or over, the sea

    adjective — Confined to a country or state; domestic; not foreign.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • lading

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • ladling

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • lagging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • laid

    verb — To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.

    verb — To produce and deposit an egg.

    verb — To have sex with.

    verb — To install certain building materials, laying one thing on top of another.

    verb — To prepare (a plan, project etc.); to set out, establish (a law, principle).

    verb — To state; to allege.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • lain

    verb — To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.

    verb — To be placed or situated.

    verb — To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.

    verb — Used with with: to have sexual relations with.

    verb — Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.

    verb — Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • lanai

    noun — (Florida) A Hawaiian-style roofed patio.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • land

    noun — The part of Earth which is not covered by oceans or other bodies of water.

    noun — Real estate or landed property; a partitioned and measurable area which is owned and on which buildings can be erected.

    noun — A country or region.

    verb — To descend to a surface, especially from the air.

    verb — To acquire; to secure.

    adjective — Of or relating to land.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • landing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • naan

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

    Appeared in 30 recorded puzzles.

  • nada

    pronoun — Nothing.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • nagging

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • naiad

    noun — A female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water.

    noun — The aquatic larva (nymph) of a dragonfly or damselfly.

    noun — Any of various aquatic plants of the genus Najas.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • nail

    noun — The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.

    noun — A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is generally driven through two or more layers of material by means of impacts from a hammer or other device. It is then held in place by friction.

    verb — To fix (an object) to another object using a nail.

    verb — To drive a nail.

    verb — To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.

    verb — To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.

    Appeared in 15 recorded puzzles.

  • nailing

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • nana

    noun — (term of endearment) one's grandmother

    noun — A banana

    noun — A fool

    noun — A nanny

    Appeared in 30 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ad×2
  • ag×2
  • ai×2
  • al×4
  • an×4
  • da×4
  • di×2
  • ga×14
  • gl×5
  • ha×11
  • hi×1
  • in×3
  • la×8
  • na×7

Words by first letter and length

4567811Σ
a 25421· 14
d 2·112· 6
g 71·641 19
h 41·34· 12
i ··2·1· 3
l 3113·· 8
n 41·2·· 7
Σ 229817121 69

The numbers

Genius today takes 253 points of 362 available. The average answer runs 5.9 letters.

Total points vs. all 378 recorded puzzles
95th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
96th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17142 recorded answers

422 today34.5% all-time59 today22.8% all-time68 today20.0% all-time717 today12.1% all-time812 today6.3% all-time92.5% all-time101.2% all-time111 today0.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a ● Friday, March 20, 2026 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
d Friday, March 20, 2026 Monday, January 26, 2026
g Thursday, March 19, 2026 Wednesday, March 4, 2026
h Friday, March 20, 2026 Monday, February 23, 2026
i Saturday, March 21, 2026 Friday, March 13, 2026
l Saturday, March 21, 2026 Sunday, March 15, 2026
n Saturday, March 21, 2026 Thursday, March 19, 2026

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.