Friday, September 11, 2026
Edited by Sam Ezersky
- Words
- 26
- Points
- 100
- Genius
- 70
- Pangram
- 1
Official answers
Show the 26 answersHide answers
Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.
-
check
noun — A situation in which the king is directly threatened by an opposing piece.
verb — To inspect; to examine.
noun — (usually pluralized) A pattern made up of a grid of squares of alternating colors; a checkered pattern.
verb — To mark with a check pattern.
adjective — Divided into small squares by transverse, perpendicular, and horizontal lines.
noun — An inspection or examination.
Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.
-
checked
verb — To inspect; to examine.
verb — To mark with a check pattern.
adjective — Having a pattern of checks; checkered.
verb — To verify the accuracy of a text or translation, usually making some corrections (proofread) or many (copyedit).
verb — (often used with "off") To mark items on a list (with a checkmark or by crossing them out) that have been chosen for keeping or removal or that have been dealt with (for example, completed or verified as correct or satisfactory).
verb — To control, limit, or halt.
Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.
-
cheek
noun — The soft skin on each side of the face, below the eyes; the outer surface of the sides of the oral cavity.
verb — To be impudent towards.
noun — (usually in the plural) The lower part of the buttocks that is often exposed beneath very brief underwear, swimwear, or extremely short shorts.
noun — Impudence.
noun — One of the genae, flat areas on the sides of a trilobite's cephalon.
noun — One of the pieces of a machine, or of timber or stonework, that form corresponding sides or a similar pair.
Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.
-
chickadee
No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.
-
deck
noun — Any raised flat surface that can be walked on: a balcony; a porch; a raised patio; a flat rooftop.
verb — To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.
verb — (sometimes with out) To dress (someone) up, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance
noun — The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks.
noun — A main aeroplane surface, especially of a biplane or multiplane.
noun — A pack or set of playing cards.
Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.
-
decked
verb — To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.
verb — (sometimes with out) To dress (someone) up, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance
adjective — Adorned or embellished.
verb — To knock someone to the floor, especially with a single punch.
verb — To cause a player to run out of cards to draw and usually lose the game as a result.
verb — (sometimes with out) To decorate (something).
Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.
-
deke
noun — A feint, fake, or other move made by the player with the puck to deceive a goaltender or defenceman.
verb — To avoid, go around, or dodge an object, person, or conversation topic; often by using trickery.
noun — As in hockey, a fake or other move to confuse other players on a team.
noun — A quick detour.
verb — To execute a deke in ice hockey or other sports.
Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.
-
eked
verb — Chiefly in the form eke out: to add to, to augment; to increase; to lengthen.
Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.
-
heck
noun — Hell.
noun — The bolt or latch of a door.
noun — A rack for cattle to feed at.
noun — A door, especially one partly of latticework.
noun — A latticework contrivance for catching fish.
noun — An apparatus for separating the threads of warps into sets, as they are wound upon the reel from the bobbins, in a warping machine.
Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.
-
khaki
No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.
-
kick
noun — A hit or strike with the leg, foot or knee.
verb — To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.
noun — One who kicks.
noun — A particular type of Texan who is associated with country/western attire, attitudes and/or philosophy.
noun — An introduction; something that leads into the beginning of something.
verb — To die.
Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.
-
kicked
No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.
Hints, no spoilers
Words by first two letters
- ca×2
- ch×5
- de×4
- di×1
- ek×1
- ha×4
- he×1
- hi×3
- kh×1
- ki×4
Words by first letter and length
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c | 1 | 4 | · | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| d | 3 | 1 | 1 | · | · | 5 |
| e | 1 | · | · | · | · | 1 |
| h | 6 | 1 | 1 | · | · | 8 |
| k | 1 | 1 | 3 | · | · | 5 |
| Σ | 12 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
The numbers
Genius today takes 70 points of 100 available. The average answer runs 5.0 letters.
Word lengths, today vs. 19841 recorded answers
History
Today's letters, last seen
| Letter | Last in a puzzle | Last as center |
|---|---|---|
| a | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
| c | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 | Sunday, August 16, 2026 |
| d | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | Friday, September 4, 2026 |
| e | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | Sunday, August 30, 2026 |
| h | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | Sunday, August 9, 2026 |
| i | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |
| k ● | Saturday, September 5, 2026 | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 |
Most common answers, all recorded puzzles
- noon 45
- naan 35
- nana 35
- toot 32
- onion 31
- loll 30
- mama 28
- mamma 28
- acacia 26
- acai 26
- nene 26
- mini 25
- minim 25
- cocoon 24
- imam 24
- maim 24
- onto 24
- toon 24
- loon 24
- olio 24
- lilt 23
- till 23
- tilt 23
- aria 23
- mitt 23
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.
- ackee
- akee
- cheeked
- chickee
- dhak
- dick
- dicked
- dickie
- dikdik
- diked
- hacek
- hackee
- hackie
- haik
- haika
- kadi
- kaiak
- kaka
- kaki
- keck
- kecked
- keddah
- keek
- keeked
- khadi
- kheda
- khedah
- kike