NYT Spelling Bee Answers for September 22, 2019
Game Summary
| Center Letter | R |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, c, f, i, n, t |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 60 words |
| Total Points | 319 points |
| Genius Level | 223 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</th><th>12 | Σ | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 14 |
| C | 1 | 5 | 3 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| F | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| I | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| N | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| R | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 13 |
| T | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | Σ | 14 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 60 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AF×2 AI×1 AN×2 AR×5 AT×4 |
|---|---|
| C | CA×4 CI×3 CR×3 |
| F | FA×3 FR×5 |
| I | IR×1 |
| N | NA×1 NI×1 |
| R | RA×8 RI×5 |
| T | TA×7 TI×1 TR×4 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | AFA×1 AFF×1 AIR×1 ANT×2 ARC×2 ARI×1 ARR×1 ART×1 ATR×1 ATT×3 |
|---|---|
| C | CAI×1 CAR×2 CAT×1 CIR×2 CIT×1 CRA×2 CRI×1 |
| F | FAI×1 FAR×2 FRA×3 FRI×2 |
| I | IRR×1 |
| N | NAR×1 NIT×1 |
| R | RAF×2 RAI×2 RAN×2 RAT×2 RIA×1 RIC×1 RIF×3 |
| T | TAN×3 TAR×4 TIA×1 TRA×4 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| af.. | AF4 | At, to, or from a great distance; far away. |
| af.... | AF6 | Something which is done or is to be done; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public. |
| ai...... | AI8 | A vehicle capable of atmospheric flight due to interaction with the air, such as buoyancy or lift |
| an....... | AN9 | Alternative spelling of Antarctic |
| an.......... † | AN12 | Alternative spelling of anti-aircraft |
| ar.... | AR6 | Specialized knowledge that is mysterious to the uninitiated. |
| ar.... | AR6 | Alternative letter-case form of Arctic |
| ar.. | AR4 | A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata. |
| ar.... | AR6 | Complete; downright; utter. |
| ar...... | AR8 | An object made or shaped by human hand or labor. |
| at... | AT5 | plural of atrium |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| at..... | AT7 | To pull toward without touching. |
| at........ | AT10 | Anything that attracts, but especially a substance (such as a pheromone) that attracts insects or other animals |
| ca... | CA5 | A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument. |
| ca... | CA5 | A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams. |
| ca.. | CA4 | A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers. |
| ca...... | CA8 | A waterspout. |
| ci... | CI5 | Approximately, about, around |
| ci... | CI5 | plural of cirrus Tendrils or claspers. |
| ci.... | CI6 | Of, pertaining to, or derived from, citrus fruit. |
| cr... | CR5 | Strength; power; might; force . |
| cr.... | CR6 | plural of cranium |
| cr.... | CR6 | A person who appraises the works of others. |
| fa.. | FA4 | Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality. |
| fa.... | FA6 | A fine flour or meal made from cereal grains or from the starch or fecula of vegetables, extracted by various processes, and used in cookery. |
| fa.. | FA4 | To emit digestive gases from the anus; to flatulate. |
| fr... | FR5 | A former unit of currency of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, replaced by the euro. |
| fr..... † | FR7 | Insane, mentally unstable. |
| fr.. | FR4 | Shortened form of fraternity, college organization. |
| fr... | FR5 | A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites, Franciscans, or the Dominicans. |
| fr...... | FR8 | A form of omelette in which vegetables, cheese, etc., are mixed into the eggs and cooked together. |
| ir...... | IR8 | Causing irritation or inflammation. |
| na.. | NA4 | A police officer assigned to or engaging in illegal narcotics control. |
| ni.... | NI6 | Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen. |
| ra.... | RA6 | A fibrous material used for tying plants, originating from the leaves of the raffia palm tree (genus Raphia). |
| ra.. | RA4 | A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform. |
| ra.. | RA4 | Condensed water falling from a cloud. |
| ra... | RA5 | A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt. |
| ra.. | RA4 | The wife of a rajah. |
| 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. |
| ri... | RI5 | Mirthful, cheerful, smiling, light-hearted. |
| ri... | RI5 | An extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean. |
| ri.. | RI4 | A repeated instrumental melody line in a song. |
| ri...... | RI8 | The rabble; crowds; the common people. |
| ri.. | RI4 | A chasm or fissure. |
| ta..... | TA7 | a flourish on a trumpet |
| ta.... | TA6 | A Hindu or Buddhist religious or esoteric text. |
| ta..... | TA7 | Related to Vajrayana Buddhism. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A system of government-imposed duties levied on imported or exported goods; a list of such duties, or the duties themselves. |
| 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. |
| ti... | TI5 | The papal crown. |
| tr... | TR5 | An area or expanse. |
| tr..... | TR7 | Moving pedestrians or vehicles, or the flux or passage thereof. |
| tr... | TR5 | Elongated or trailing portion. The elongated back portion of a dress or skirt (or an ornamental piece of material added to similar effect), which drags along the ground. |
| tr... | TR5 | An identifying characteristic, habit or trend. |
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.
- afar (AF4)
- affair (AF6)
- aircraft (AI8)
- antarctic (AN9)
- antiaircraft† (AN12)
- arcana (AR6)
- arctic (AR6)
- aria (AR4)
- arrant (AR6)
- artifact (AR8)
- atria (AT5)
- attar (AT5)
- attract (AT7)
- attractant (AT10)
- cairn (CA5)
- carat (CA5)
- cart (CA4)
- cataract (CA8)
- circa (CI5)
- cirri (CI5)
- citric (CI6)
- craft (CR5)
- crania (CR6)
- critic (CR6)
- fair (FA4)
- farina (FA6)
- fart (FA4)
- franc (FR5)
- frantic† (FR7)
- frat (FR4)
- friar (FR5)
- frittata (FR8)
- irritant (IR8)
- narc (NA4)
- nitric (NI6)
- raffia (RA6)
- raft (RA4)
- rain (RA4)
- raita (RA5)
- rani (RA4)
- rant (RA4)
- ratatat (RA7)
- rattan (RA6)
- riant (RI5)
- ricin (RI5)
- riff (RI4)
- riffraff (RI8)
- rift (RI4)
- tantara (TA7)
- tantra (TA6)
- tantric (TA7)
- tariff (TA6)
- tart (TA4)
- tartan (TA6)
- tartar (TA6)
- tiara (TI5)
- tract (TR5)
- traffic (TR7)
- train (TR5)
- trait (TR5)
Answer Definitions
- afar (adverb): At, to, or from a great distance; far away.
- affair (noun): Something which is done or is to be done; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public.
- aircraft (noun): A vehicle capable of atmospheric flight due to interaction with the air, such as buoyancy or lift
- antarctic (adjective): Alternative spelling of Antarctic
- antiaircraft† (adjective): Alternative spelling of anti-aircraft
- arcana (noun): Specialized knowledge that is mysterious to the uninitiated.
- arctic (adjective): Alternative letter-case form of Arctic
- aria (noun): A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.
- arrant (adjective): Complete; downright; utter.
- artifact (noun): An object made or shaped by human hand or labor.
- atria (noun): plural of atrium
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- attract (verb): To pull toward without touching.
- attractant (noun): Anything that attracts, but especially a substance (such as a pheromone) that attracts insects or other animals
- cairn (noun): A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument.
- carat (noun): A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
- cart (noun): A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers.
- cataract (noun): A waterspout.
- circa (preposition): Approximately, about, around
- cirri (noun): plural of cirrus Tendrils or claspers.
- citric (adjective): Of, pertaining to, or derived from, citrus fruit.
- craft (noun): Strength; power; might; force .
- crania (noun): plural of cranium
- critic (noun): A person who appraises the works of others.
- fair (adjective): Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality.
- farina (noun): A fine flour or meal made from cereal grains or from the starch or fecula of vegetables, extracted by various processes, and used in cookery.
- fart (verb): To emit digestive gases from the anus; to flatulate.
- franc (noun): A former unit of currency of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, replaced by the euro.
- frantic† (adjective): Insane, mentally unstable.
- frat (noun): Shortened form of fraternity, college organization.
- friar (noun): A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites, Franciscans, or the Dominicans.
- frittata (noun): A form of omelette in which vegetables, cheese, etc., are mixed into the eggs and cooked together.
- irritant (adjective): Causing irritation or inflammation.
- narc (noun): A police officer assigned to or engaging in illegal narcotics control.
- nitric (adjective): Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen.
- raffia (noun): A fibrous material used for tying plants, originating from the leaves of the raffia palm tree (genus Raphia).
- raft (noun): A flat-bottomed craft able to float and drift on water, used for transport or as a waterborne platform.
- rain (noun): Condensed water falling from a cloud.
- raita (noun): A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt.
- rani (noun): The wife of a rajah.
- 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.
- riant (adjective): Mirthful, cheerful, smiling, light-hearted.
- ricin (noun): An extremely toxic lectin extracted from the castor bean.
- riff (noun): A repeated instrumental melody line in a song.
- riffraff (noun): The rabble; crowds; the common people.
- rift (noun): A chasm or fissure.
- tantara (noun): a flourish on a trumpet
- tantra (noun): A Hindu or Buddhist religious or esoteric text.
- tantric (adjective): Related to Vajrayana Buddhism.
- tariff (noun): A system of government-imposed duties levied on imported or exported goods; a list of such duties, or the duties themselves.
- 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.
- tiara (noun): The papal crown.
- tract (noun): An area or expanse.
- traffic (noun): Moving pedestrians or vehicles, or the flux or passage thereof.
- train (noun): Elongated or trailing portion. The elongated back portion of a dress or skirt (or an ornamental piece of material added to similar effect), which drags along the ground.
- trait (noun): An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.