NYT Spelling Bee Answers for March 16, 2020

calendar Mar 16, 2020 · 11 min read · spelling bee  ·
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Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for March 16, 2020
Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for March 16, 2020

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for March 16, 2020
Center LetterE
Outer Lettersg, n, o, p, t, y
# of Pangrams1 (Perfect: none)
Total Words49 words
Total Points164 points
Genius Level115 points
Bingo?Yes

Table of Contents

As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!

  1. Spelling Bee Grid
  2. Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
  3. Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
  4. Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
  5. Today's Complete Solution
  6. Answer Definitions

If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for March 16, 2020

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>8Σ
E2-11-4
G311-16
N52---7
O2---24
P752--14
T651--12
Y11---2
Σ261451349

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.

E
EG×2
EN×1
EP×1
G
GE×3
GO×3
N
NE×3
NO×4
O
OG×1
ON×1
OP×2
P
PE×10
PO×4
T
TE×7
TO×4
TY×1
Y
YE×2

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.

E
EGG×2
ENT×1
EPE×1
G
GEN×3
GON×1
GOO×1
GOT×1
N
NEN×1
NEO×1
NET×1
NON×2
NOP×1
NOT×1
O
OGE×1
ONT×1
OPE×1
OPP×1
P
PEE×2
PEN×3
PEO×2
PEP×1
PET×1
PEY×1
POE×1
PON×1
POP×1
POT×1
T
TEE×3
TEN×3
TEP×1
TON×2
TOP×1
TOT×1
TYP×1
Y
YEG×1
YEN×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 (†).

Word2L RefDefinition (click to reveal)
eg....EG6A beverage based on milk, eggs, sugar, and nutmeg; often made alcoholic with rum, brandy or whisky; popular at Christmas.
eg..EG4Covered with or dipped in egg.
en.....EN7An informal alliance or friendly understanding between two states.
ep..EP4A sharp-pointed dueling sword with a bell-shaped guard, used (with the end blunted) in sport fencing.
ge..GE4A theoretical unit of heredity of living organisms; a gene may take several values and in principle predetermines a precise trait of an organism's form (phenotype), such as hair color.
ge...... †GE8The part (DNA sequence) of the genetic makeup of an organism which determines a specific characteristic (phenotype) of that organism.
ge..GE4A gentleman.
go..GO4past participle of go
go...GO5of or relating to goo
go....GO6past participle of get
ne..NE4The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957.
ne..NE4The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.
ne...NE5Neat, well-groomed, natty.
no..NO4Not any of a given number or group.
no...NO5A composition for nine instruments or nine voices.
no..NO4No.
no..NO4A symbol or annotation. A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality. A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence. A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.
og..OG4A double curve in the shape of an elongated S; an object of that shape.
on......ON8ontogenesis
op..OP4Not closed. Able to be accessed. Able to have something pass through or along it.
op......OP8One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
pe..PE4The (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end.
pe..PE4A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a baby bird.
pe...PE5A type of short, diagonally cut pasta.
pe...PE5In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a unit of currency worth ⁄240 of a pound sterling or Irish pound before decimalisation, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: d.
pe..PE4Confinement; concealment.
pe..PE4A lowly person; a peasant or serf; a labourer who is obliged to do menial work.
pe...PE5A flowering plant of the genus Paeonia with large fragrant flowers.
pe...PE5Full of pep; energetic, cheerful, and vigorous; bouncy
pe...PE5Having little or no importance.
pe....PE6A small, spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii) found from southwest United States to central Mexico that produces buttonlike tubercles that can be chewed for its psychedelic effect, primarily from the drug mescaline.
po..PO4A person who writes poems.
po..PO4A writ in law used by the superior courts to remove cases from inferior courts.
po..PO4An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state. Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority. Any similar head of a religion. A theocrat, a priest-king, including (at first especially) over the imaginary land of Prester John or (now) in figurative and alliterative uses. An effigy of the pope traditionally burnt in Britain on Guy Fawkes' Day and (occasionally) at other times. Pope Day, the present Guy Fawkes Day.
po....PO6Possessing strength.
te..TE4Synonym of teenager: a person between 13 and 19 years old.
te...TE5Very small; tiny.
te....TE6A cone-shaped tent traditionally used by many native peoples of the Great Plains of North America.
te...TE5An opinion, belief, or principle that is held as absolute truth by someone or especially an organization.
te...TE5A projecting member left by cutting away the wood around it, and made to insert into a mortise, and in this way secure together the parts of a frame.
te..TE4A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, used for sheltering people from the weather.
te...TE5Alternative form of teepee
to..TO4A specific pitch.
to...TO5A metric unit of mass equal to a thousand kilograms. Symbol: t
to..TO4To drink excessively; to get drunk.
to..TO4A tote bag.
ty..TY4A grouping based on shared characteristics; a class.
ye..YE4A person who breaks open safes; a burglar.
ye...YE5Alternative spelling of yenta

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.

  • eggnog  (EG6)
  • eggy  (EG4)
  • entente  (EN7)
  • epee  (EP4)
  • gene  (GE4)
  • genotype†  (GE8)
  • gent  (GE4)
  • gone  (GO4)
  • gooey  (GO5)
  • gotten  (GO6)
  • nene  (NE4)
  • neon  (NE4)
  • netty  (NE5)
  • none  (NO4)
  • nonet  (NO5)
  • nope  (NO4)
  • note  (NO4)
  • ogee  (OG4)
  • ontogeny  (ON8)
  • open  (OP4)
  • opponent  (OP8)
  • peen  (PE4)
  • peep  (PE4)
  • penne  (PE5)
  • penny  (PE5)
  • pent  (PE4)
  • peon  (PE4)
  • peony  (PE5)
  • peppy  (PE5)
  • petty  (PE5)
  • peyote  (PE6)
  • poet  (PO4)
  • pone  (PO4)
  • pope  (PO4)
  • potent  (PO6)
  • teen  (TE4)
  • teeny  (TE5)
  • teepee  (TE6)
  • tenet  (TE5)
  • tenon  (TE5)
  • tent  (TE4)
  • tepee  (TE5)
  • tone  (TO4)
  • tonne  (TO5)
  • tope  (TO4)
  • tote  (TO4)
  • type  (TY4)
  • yegg  (YE4)
  • yente  (YE5)

Answer Definitions

  • eggnog (noun): A beverage based on milk, eggs, sugar, and nutmeg; often made alcoholic with rum, brandy or whisky; popular at Christmas.
  • eggy (adjective): Covered with or dipped in egg.
  • entente (noun): An informal alliance or friendly understanding between two states.
  • epee (noun): A sharp-pointed dueling sword with a bell-shaped guard, used (with the end blunted) in sport fencing.
  • gene (noun): A theoretical unit of heredity of living organisms; a gene may take several values and in principle predetermines a precise trait of an organism's form (phenotype), such as hair color.
  • genotype† (noun): The part (DNA sequence) of the genetic makeup of an organism which determines a specific characteristic (phenotype) of that organism.
  • gent (noun): A gentleman.
  • gone (verb): past participle of go
  • gooey (adjective): of or relating to goo
  • gotten (verb): past participle of get
  • nene (noun): The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957.
  • neon (noun): The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.
  • netty (adjective): Neat, well-groomed, natty.
  • none (pronoun): Not any of a given number or group.
  • nonet (noun): A composition for nine instruments or nine voices.
  • nope (particle): No.
  • note (noun): A symbol or annotation. A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality. A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence. A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or illustrative observation.
  • ogee (noun): A double curve in the shape of an elongated S; an object of that shape.
  • ontogeny (noun): ontogenesis
  • open (adjective): Not closed. Able to be accessed. Able to have something pass through or along it.
  • opponent (noun): One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
  • peen (noun): The (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end.
  • peep (noun): A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a baby bird.
  • penne (noun): A type of short, diagonally cut pasta.
  • penny (noun): In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a unit of currency worth ⁄240 of a pound sterling or Irish pound before decimalisation, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: d.
  • pent (noun): Confinement; concealment.
  • peon (noun): A lowly person; a peasant or serf; a labourer who is obliged to do menial work.
  • peony (noun): A flowering plant of the genus Paeonia with large fragrant flowers.
  • peppy (adjective): Full of pep; energetic, cheerful, and vigorous; bouncy
  • petty (adjective): Having little or no importance.
  • peyote (noun): A small, spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii) found from southwest United States to central Mexico that produces buttonlike tubercles that can be chewed for its psychedelic effect, primarily from the drug mescaline.
  • poet (noun): A person who writes poems.
  • pone (noun): A writ in law used by the superior courts to remove cases from inferior courts.
  • pope (noun): An honorary title of the Roman Catholic bishop of Rome as father and head of his church, a sovereign of the Vatican city state. Any similarly absolute and 'infallible' authority. Any similar head of a religion. A theocrat, a priest-king, including (at first especially) over the imaginary land of Prester John or (now) in figurative and alliterative uses. An effigy of the pope traditionally burnt in Britain on Guy Fawkes' Day and (occasionally) at other times. Pope Day, the present Guy Fawkes Day.
  • potent (adjective): Possessing strength.
  • teen (noun): Synonym of teenager: a person between 13 and 19 years old.
  • teeny (adjective): Very small; tiny.
  • teepee (noun): A cone-shaped tent traditionally used by many native peoples of the Great Plains of North America.
  • tenet (noun): An opinion, belief, or principle that is held as absolute truth by someone or especially an organization.
  • tenon (noun): A projecting member left by cutting away the wood around it, and made to insert into a mortise, and in this way secure together the parts of a frame.
  • tent (noun): A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, used for sheltering people from the weather.
  • tepee (noun): Alternative form of teepee
  • tone (noun): A specific pitch.
  • tonne (noun): A metric unit of mass equal to a thousand kilograms. Symbol: t
  • tope (verb): To drink excessively; to get drunk.
  • tote (noun): A tote bag.
  • type (noun): A grouping based on shared characteristics; a class.
  • yegg (noun): A person who breaks open safes; a burglar.
  • yente (noun): Alternative spelling of yenta