NYT Spelling Bee Answers for September 23, 2020
Game Summary
| Center Letter | T |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, h, o, p, r, y |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 74 words |
| Total Points | 305 points |
| Genius Level | 214 points |
| Bingo? | No |
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 | Σ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | - | - | 10 |
| H | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 6 |
| O | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| P | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 13 |
| R | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | - | 12 |
| T | 14 | 7 | 6 | 2 | - | - | 29 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 29 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 74 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AO×1 AP×4 AR×2 AT×3 |
|---|---|
| H | HA×3 HO×3 |
| O | OA×2 OR×2 |
| P | PA×6 PH×2 PO×4 PR×1 |
| R | RA×6 RO×6 |
| T | TA×10 TH×3 TO×7 TR×7 TY×2 |
| Y |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | AOR×1 APA×2 APO×1 APP×1 ARH×1 ART×1 ATO×1 ATR×1 ATT×1 |
|---|---|
| H | HAR×1 HAT×2 HOO×1 HOR×1 HOT×1 |
| O | OAT×2 ORA×2 |
| P | PAR×4 PAT×2 PHA×1 PHO×1 POR×2 POT×2 PRA×1 |
| R | RAP×3 RAT×3 ROO×1 ROT×5 |
| T | TAP×2 TAR×6 TAT×2 THA×1 THR×2 TOO×3 TOR×4 TRA×2 TRO×5 TYP×1 TYR×1 |
| Y |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| ao... | AO5 | The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system. |
| ap... | AP5 | Placed separately (in regard to space or time). |
| ap.... | AP6 | Lack of emotion or motivation; lack of interest or enthusiasm towards something; disinterest (in something). |
| ap... | AP5 | on the left side of the boat |
| ap..... | AP7 | The Soviet machinery of state bureaucratic administration, or a similar communistic structure. |
| ar... | AR5 | One who has attained enlightenment; a Buddhist saint. |
| ar.. | AR4 | Inclined toward paintings, music, etc. |
| at.. | AT4 | On the top of. |
| at..... † | AT7 | A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use. |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| ha.. | HA4 | A male deer, especially the male of the red deer after his fifth year. |
| ha.. | HA4 | third-person singular simple present indicative form of have |
| ha... | HA5 | The fundamental form of yoga that focuses on asanas |
| ho.. | HO4 | A derisive cry or shout. |
| ho....... | HO9 | Giving exhortation or advice; encouraging. |
| ho.... | HO6 | Alternative spelling of hot pot. |
| oa.. | OA4 | A solemn pledge or promise that invokes a deity, a ruler, or another entity (not necessarily present) to attest the truth of a statement or sincerity of one's desire to fulfill a contract or promise. |
| oa.. | OA4 | Containing oats. |
| or.... | OR6 | Someone who orates or delivers an oration. |
| or..... | OR7 | A private chapel or prayer room. |
| pa....... | PA9 | A company of paratroopers. |
| pa.... | PA6 | A kind of bird, many species of which are colourful and able to mimic human speech, of the order Psittaciformes or (narrowly) of the family Psittacidae. |
| pa.. | PA4 | A portion; a component. A fraction of a whole. |
| pa... | PA5 | A person or group of people constituting a particular side in a contract or legal action. |
| pa.. | PA4 | A trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians. |
| pa... | PA5 | A flattened portion of ground meat or a vegetarian equivalent, usually round but sometimes square in shape. |
| ph.. | PH4 | Excellent; cool; very good. |
| ph... | PH5 | A photograph. |
| po.. | PO4 | A place on the coast at which ships can shelter, or dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. |
| po..... | PO7 | To paint or draw the likeness of. |
| po.... | PO6 | The tuber of a plant, Solanum tuberosum, eaten as a starchy vegetable, particularly in the Americas and Europe; this plant. |
| po... | PO5 | A chamber pot, particularly the pot used when toilet-training children. |
| pr.. | PR4 | A cunning or mischievous trick; a prank, a joke. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A relationship of mutual trust and respect. A close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well. |
| ra.. | RA4 | Snatched, taken away; abducted. |
| ra.... | RA6 | A bird of prey. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A device (trap) used to catch rats. |
| ra... | RA5 | Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent. |
| ro.. | RO4 | The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction. |
| ro.... | RO6 | Capable of rotation. |
| ro..... | RO7 | One who or that which rotates. |
| ro...... | RO8 | of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational |
| ro.. | RO4 | Clipping of rotogravure. |
| ro... | RO5 | A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump. |
| ta.. | TA4 | A kind of cloth prepared by the Polynesians from the inner bark of the paper mulberry. |
| ta..... | TA7 | A long, tapering root possessed by many plants (such as carrots and dandelions). |
| ta.. | TA4 | Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato. |
| ta... | TA5 | A card game played in various different variations. |
| ta.. | TA4 | A tarpaulin. |
| 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 red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar. |
| ta.... | TA6 | An image made in the skin with ink and a needle. |
| ta... | TA5 | worn and shabby; in poor condition. |
| th.. | TH4 | Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement. |
| th.... | TH6 | The front part of the neck. |
| th..... | TH7 | Produced in the throat; having a rough or coarse quality like a sound produced in the throat. |
| to.. | TO4 | The noise of a horn or whistle. |
| to... | TO5 | A hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth of many vertebrate animals, generally used for eating. |
| to.... | TO6 | Having prominent teeth |
| to... | TO5 | the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible |
| to.. | TO4 | A traditional Japanese lantern. |
| to.... | TO6 | A state of being inactive or stuporous. |
| to.. | TO4 | An injury or wrong. |
| tr.. | TR4 | A machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body. |
| tr.. | TR4 | A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried. |
| tr... | TR5 | A collection of people; a number; a multitude (in general). |
| tr.... | TR6 | An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement. |
| tr.. | TR4 | An ugly old woman, a hag. |
| tr... | TR5 | An oath, pledge, or promise. A pledge or promise to marry someone. The state of being thus pledged; betrothal, engagement. |
| tr.. | TR4 | Of, or relating to, troy weight. |
| ty.. | TY4 | A typographical error. |
| ty.. | TY4 | A beginner; a novice. |
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.
- aorta (AO5)
- apart (AP5)
- apathy (AP6)
- aport (AP5)
- apparat (AP7)
- arhat (AR5)
- arty (AR4)
- atop (AT4)
- atrophy† (AT7)
- attar (AT5)
- hart (HA4)
- hath (HA4)
- hatha (HA5)
- hoot (HO4)
- hortatory (HO9)
- hotpot (HO6)
- oath (OA4)
- oaty (OA4)
- orator (OR6)
- oratory (OR7)
- paratroop (PA9)
- parrot (PA6)
- part (PA4)
- party (PA5)
- path (PA4)
- patty (PA5)
- phat (PH4)
- photo (PH5)
- port (PO4)
- portray (PO7)
- potato (PO6)
- potty (PO5)
- prat (PR4)
- rapport (RA7)
- rapt (RA4)
- raptor (RA6)
- ratatat (RA7)
- rattrap (RA7)
- ratty (RA5)
- root (RO4)
- rotary (RO6)
- rotator (RO7)
- rotatory (RO8)
- roto (RO4)
- rotor (RO5)
- tapa (TA4)
- taproot (TA7)
- taro (TA4)
- tarot (TA5)
- tarp (TA4)
- tarry (TA5)
- tart (TA4)
- tartar (TA6)
- tattoo (TA6)
- tatty (TA5)
- that (TH4)
- throat (TH6)
- throaty (TH7)
- toot (TO4)
- tooth (TO5)
- toothy (TO6)
- torah (TO5)
- toro (TO4)
- torpor (TO6)
- tort (TO4)
- trap (TR4)
- tray (TR4)
- troop (TR5)
- trophy (TR6)
- trot (TR4)
- troth (TR5)
- troy (TR4)
- typo (TY4)
- tyro (TY4)
Answer Definitions
- aorta (noun): The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
- apart (adverb): Placed separately (in regard to space or time).
- apathy (noun): Lack of emotion or motivation; lack of interest or enthusiasm towards something; disinterest (in something).
- aport (adverb): on the left side of the boat
- apparat (noun): The Soviet machinery of state bureaucratic administration, or a similar communistic structure.
- arhat (noun): One who has attained enlightenment; a Buddhist saint.
- arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
- atop (preposition): On the top of.
- atrophy† (noun): A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- hart (noun): A male deer, especially the male of the red deer after his fifth year.
- hath (verb): third-person singular simple present indicative form of have
- hatha (noun): The fundamental form of yoga that focuses on asanas
- hoot (noun): A derisive cry or shout.
- hortatory (adjective): Giving exhortation or advice; encouraging.
- hotpot (noun): Alternative spelling of hot pot.
- oath (noun): A solemn pledge or promise that invokes a deity, a ruler, or another entity (not necessarily present) to attest the truth of a statement or sincerity of one's desire to fulfill a contract or promise.
- oaty (adjective): Containing oats.
- orator (noun): Someone who orates or delivers an oration.
- oratory (noun): A private chapel or prayer room.
- paratroop (noun): A company of paratroopers.
- parrot (noun): A kind of bird, many species of which are colourful and able to mimic human speech, of the order Psittaciformes or (narrowly) of the family Psittacidae.
- part (noun): A portion; a component. A fraction of a whole.
- party (noun): A person or group of people constituting a particular side in a contract or legal action.
- path (noun): A trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians.
- patty (noun): A flattened portion of ground meat or a vegetarian equivalent, usually round but sometimes square in shape.
- phat (adjective): Excellent; cool; very good.
- photo (noun): A photograph.
- port (noun): A place on the coast at which ships can shelter, or dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.
- portray (verb): To paint or draw the likeness of.
- potato (noun): The tuber of a plant, Solanum tuberosum, eaten as a starchy vegetable, particularly in the Americas and Europe; this plant.
- potty (noun): A chamber pot, particularly the pot used when toilet-training children.
- prat (noun): A cunning or mischievous trick; a prank, a joke.
- rapport (noun): A relationship of mutual trust and respect. A close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.
- rapt (adjective): Snatched, taken away; abducted.
- raptor (noun): A bird of prey.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- rattrap (noun): A device (trap) used to catch rats.
- ratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
- root (noun): The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.
- rotary (adjective): Capable of rotation.
- rotator (noun): One who or that which rotates.
- rotatory (adjective): of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational
- roto (noun): Clipping of rotogravure.
- rotor (noun): A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
- tapa (noun): A kind of cloth prepared by the Polynesians from the inner bark of the paper mulberry.
- taproot (noun): A long, tapering root possessed by many plants (such as carrots and dandelions).
- taro (noun): Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.
- tarot (noun): A card game played in various different variations.
- tarp (noun): A tarpaulin.
- tarry (verb): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
- tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
- tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
- tattoo (noun): An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
- tatty (noun): worn and shabby; in poor condition.
- that (conjunction): Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement.
- throat (noun): The front part of the neck.
- throaty (adjective): Produced in the throat; having a rough or coarse quality like a sound produced in the throat.
- toot (noun): The noise of a horn or whistle.
- tooth (noun): A hard, calcareous structure present in the mouth of many vertebrate animals, generally used for eating.
- toothy (adjective): Having prominent teeth
- torah (noun): the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible
- toro (noun): A traditional Japanese lantern.
- torpor (noun): A state of being inactive or stuporous.
- tort (noun): An injury or wrong.
- trap (noun): A machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body.
- tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
- troop (noun): A collection of people; a number; a multitude (in general).
- trophy (noun): An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
- trot (noun): An ugly old woman, a hag.
- troth (noun): An oath, pledge, or promise. A pledge or promise to marry someone. The state of being thus pledged; betrothal, engagement.
- troy (adjective): Of, or relating to, troy weight.
- typo (noun): A typographical error.
- tyro (noun): A beginner; a novice.