NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 12, 2018
Game Summary
| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | l, n, r, t, u, y |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 71 words |
| Total Points | 357 points |
| Genius Level | 250 points |
| Bingo? | Yes |
Table of Contents
As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!
- Spelling Bee Grid
- Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
- Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
- Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
- Today's Complete Solution
- Answer Definitions
If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).
Spelling Bee Grid
The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.
| 4</th><th>5</th><th>6</th><th>7</th><th>8</th><th>9</th><th>10</th><th>11 | Σ | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 20 |
| L | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| N | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | 10 |
| R | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| T | 5 | 4 | 7 | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | 19 |
| U | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 7 |
| Y | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | Σ | 19 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 5 | - | 1 | 71 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×3 AN×7 AR×4 AT×1 AU×5 |
|---|---|
| L | LU×5 |
| N | NA×9 NU×1 |
| R | RA×6 RU×2 |
| T | TA×14 TR×2 TU×1 TY×2 |
| U | UL×4 UN×3 |
| Y | YA×1 YU×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALL×2 ALT×1 ANA×2 ANN×5 ARR×3 ART×1 ATT×1 AUN×2 AUR×3 |
|---|---|
| L | LUA×1 LUN×4 |
| N | NAA×1 NAN×2 NAR×1 NAT×5 NUR×1 |
| R | RAL×1 RAN×1 RAT×4 RUR×2 |
| T | TAL×2 TAN×2 TAR×6 TAT×1 TAU×3 TRA×1 TRU×1 TUN×1 TYR×2 |
| U | ULN×2 ULT×1 ULU×1 UNA×1 UNN×2 |
| Y | YAR×1 YUA×1 |
Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)
The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.
Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.
Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| al... | AL5 | To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm. |
| al.. | AL4 | To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. |
| al... | AL5 | A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites. |
| an.. | AN4 | of, related to, intended for or involving the anus. |
| an.... | AN6 | Involving the anus. |
| an.... | AN6 | Happening once every year. |
| an...... | AN8 | Once every year without fail, yearly |
| an... | AN5 | To formally revoke the validity of. |
| an..... | AN7 | Pertaining to, or having the form of, a ring; ring-shaped; in the shape of an annulus. |
| an....... | AN9 | In an annular manner. |
| ar.... | AR6 | Complete; downright; utter. |
| ar...... | AR8 | In an arrant manner; utterly, thoroughly, outright. |
| ar... | AR5 | an ordered series or arrangement. |
| ar.. | AR4 | Inclined toward paintings, music, etc. |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| au.. | AU4 | The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent. |
| au... | AU5 | Alternative spelling of auntie |
| au.. | AU4 | Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something. |
| au... | AU5 | Of or pertaining to the ear. |
| au..... | AU7 | Pertaining to sound or the ear; via or through the sense of hearing. |
| lu.. | LU4 | An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A luna moth: a member of species Actias luna. |
| lu... | LU5 | Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon). |
| lu.... | LU6 | Something shaped like a crescent or half-moon; especially the pale area at the base of the fingernail. |
| lu..... | LU7 | Having a form like that of the new moon; crescent-shaped. |
| na.. | NA4 | A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine. |
| na.. | NA4 | A banana. |
| na... | NA5 | A child's nurse. |
| na.. | NA4 | Not, never. |
| na... | NA5 | Of or relating to birth. |
| na.... | NA6 | floating or swimming (in water) |
| na... | NA5 | Smart and fashionable. |
| na..... | NA7 | Existing in nature. Existing in the nature of a person or thing; innate, not acquired or learned. Normally associated with a particular person or thing; inherently related to the nature of a thing or creature. |
| na....... † | NA9 | In a natural manner. |
| nu....... | NU9 | That provides nourishment; nurturing. |
| ra... | RA5 | A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause. |
| ra.. | RA4 | To speak or shout at length in uncontrollable anger. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| ra.... | RA6 | Any of several species of climbing palm of the genus Calamus. |
| ra.... | RA6 | That rattles. |
| ra... | RA5 | Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent. |
| ru... | RU5 | Relating to the countryside or to agriculture. |
| ru..... | RU7 | In a rural way. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall. |
| ta... | TA5 | Target sighted. |
| ta..... | TA7 | a flourish on a trumpet |
| ta.... | TA6 | A Hindu or Buddhist religious or esoteric text. |
| ta....... | TA9 | Any of the large, hairy New World spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae. |
| ta... | TA5 | To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Sharp to the taste; acid; sour. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A kind of woven woollen cloth with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles, associated with Scottish Highlanders, different clans and some Scottish families and institutions having their own distinctive patterns. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar. |
| ta.... | TA6 | In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly. |
| ta... | TA5 | worn and shabby; in poor condition. |
| ta... | TA5 | to make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight. |
| ta.... | TA6 | In a taut manner, tightly, tensely. |
| tr.. | TR4 | A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried. |
| tr.... | TR6 | Absent without permission, especially from school. |
| tu.. | TU4 | Any of several species of fish of the genus Thunnus in the family Scombridae. |
| ty..... | TY7 | A government in which a single ruler has absolute power; this system of government. |
| ty.... | TY6 | A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings elevated by election or succession. |
| ul.. | UL4 | The bone of the forearm that extends from the elbow to the wrist on the side opposite to the thumb, corresponding to the fibula of the hind limb. Also, the corresponding bone in the forelimb of any vertebrate. |
| ul... | UL5 | Of or pertaining to the ulna, or the elbow |
| ul... | UL5 | Extreme; far beyond the norm; fanatical; uncompromising. |
| ul..... | UL7 | Howling; wailing. |
| un... | UN5 | Consisting of or involving a single element or component. |
| un....... | UN9 | Not natural. |
| un......... † | UN11 | In an unnatural manner; to an unnatural extent. |
| ya.. | YA4 | A twisted strand of fiber used for knitting or weaving. |
| yu.. | YU4 | The basic unit of money in China. |
Today's Complete Solution
The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.
Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.
- allay (AL5)
- ally (AL4)
- altar (AL5)
- anal (AN4)
- anally (AN6)
- annual (AN6)
- annually (AN8)
- annul (AN5)
- annular (AN7)
- annularly (AN9)
- arrant (AR6)
- arrantly (AR8)
- array (AR5)
- arty (AR4)
- attar (AT5)
- aunt (AU4)
- aunty (AU5)
- aura (AU4)
- aural (AU5)
- aurally (AU7)
- luau (LU4)
- luna (LU4)
- lunar (LU5)
- lunula (LU6)
- lunular (LU7)
- naan (NA4)
- nana (NA4)
- nanny (NA5)
- nary (NA4)
- natal (NA5)
- natant (NA6)
- natty (NA5)
- natural (NA7)
- naturally† (NA9)
- nurturant (NU9)
- rally (RA5)
- rant (RA4)
- ratatat (RA7)
- rattan (RA6)
- rattly (RA6)
- ratty (RA5)
- rural (RU5)
- rurally (RU7)
- tall (TA4)
- tally (TA5)
- tantara (TA7)
- tantra (TA6)
- tarantula (TA9)
- tarry (TA5)
- tart (TA4)
- tartan (TA6)
- tartar (TA6)
- tartly (TA6)
- tatty (TA5)
- taunt (TA5)
- taut (TA4)
- tautly (TA6)
- tray (TR4)
- truant (TR6)
- tuna (TU4)
- tyranny (TY7)
- tyrant (TY6)
- ulna (UL4)
- ulnar (UL5)
- ultra (UL5)
- ululant (UL7)
- unary (UN5)
- unnatural (UN9)
- unnaturally† (UN11)
- yarn (YA4)
- yuan (YU4)
Answer Definitions
- allay (verb): To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.
- ally (verb): To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty.
- altar (noun): A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
- anal (adjective): of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.
- anally (adverb): Involving the anus.
- annual (adjective): Happening once every year.
- annually (adverb): Once every year without fail, yearly
- annul (verb): To formally revoke the validity of.
- annular (adjective): Pertaining to, or having the form of, a ring; ring-shaped; in the shape of an annulus.
- annularly (adverb): In an annular manner.
- arrant (adjective): Complete; downright; utter.
- arrantly (adverb): In an arrant manner; utterly, thoroughly, outright.
- array (noun): an ordered series or arrangement.
- arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- aunt (noun): The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
- aunty (noun): Alternative spelling of auntie
- aura (noun): Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
- aural (adjective): Of or pertaining to the ear.
- aurally (adverb): Pertaining to sound or the ear; via or through the sense of hearing.
- luau (noun): An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.
- luna (noun): A luna moth: a member of species Actias luna.
- lunar (adjective): Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon).
- lunula (noun): Something shaped like a crescent or half-moon; especially the pale area at the base of the fingernail.
- lunular (adjective): Having a form like that of the new moon; crescent-shaped.
- naan (noun): A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
- nana (noun): A banana.
- nanny (noun): A child's nurse.
- nary (adverb): Not, never.
- natal (adjective): Of or relating to birth.
- natant (adjective): floating or swimming (in water)
- natty (adjective): Smart and fashionable.
- natural (adjective): Existing in nature. Existing in the nature of a person or thing; innate, not acquired or learned. Normally associated with a particular person or thing; inherently related to the nature of a thing or creature.
- naturally† (adverb): In a natural manner.
- nurturant (adjective): That provides nourishment; nurturing.
- rally (noun): A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
- rant (verb): To speak or shout at length in uncontrollable anger.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- rattan (noun): Any of several species of climbing palm of the genus Calamus.
- rattly (adjective): That rattles.
- ratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
- rural (adjective): Relating to the countryside or to agriculture.
- rurally (adverb): In a rural way.
- tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
- tally (interjection): Target sighted.
- tantara (noun): a flourish on a trumpet
- tantra (noun): A Hindu or Buddhist religious or esoteric text.
- tarantula (noun): Any of the large, hairy New World spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae.
- tarry (verb): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
- tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
- tartan (noun): A kind of woven woollen cloth with a distinctive pattern of coloured stripes intersecting at right angles, associated with Scottish Highlanders, different clans and some Scottish families and institutions having their own distinctive patterns.
- tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
- tartly (adverb): In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
- tatty (noun): worn and shabby; in poor condition.
- taunt (verb): to make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.
- taut (adjective): Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
- tautly (adverb): In a taut manner, tightly, tensely.
- tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
- truant (adjective): Absent without permission, especially from school.
- tuna (noun): Any of several species of fish of the genus Thunnus in the family Scombridae.
- tyranny (noun): A government in which a single ruler has absolute power; this system of government.
- tyrant (noun): A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings elevated by election or succession.
- ulna (noun): The bone of the forearm that extends from the elbow to the wrist on the side opposite to the thumb, corresponding to the fibula of the hind limb. Also, the corresponding bone in the forelimb of any vertebrate.
- ulnar (adjective): Of or pertaining to the ulna, or the elbow
- ultra (adjective): Extreme; far beyond the norm; fanatical; uncompromising.
- ululant (adjective): Howling; wailing.
- unary (adjective): Consisting of or involving a single element or component.
- unnatural (adjective): Not natural.
- unnaturally† (adverb): In an unnatural manner; to an unnatural extent.
- yarn (noun): A twisted strand of fiber used for knitting or weaving.
- yuan (noun): The basic unit of money in China.