NYT Spelling Bee Answers for October 18, 2020
Game Summary
| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | d, i, n, o, p, r |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 54 words |
| Total Points | 247 points |
| Genius Level | 173 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 | Σ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 5 | - | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| D | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| I | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| N | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 6 |
| O | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| P | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| R | 7 | 5 | 2 | - | 2 | 16 | Σ | 18 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 54 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AD×1 AI×1 AN×4 AP×3 AR×3 |
|---|---|
| D | DA×1 DI×1 DO×1 DR×1 |
| I | IN×1 |
| N | NA×5 NO×1 |
| O | OR×1 |
| P | PA×11 PI×1 PO×2 |
| R | RA×12 RI×1 RO×3 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ADO×1 AIR×1 AND×2 ANI×1 ANO×1 API×2 APR×1 ARD×1 ARI×2 |
|---|---|
| D | DAR×1 DIN×1 DOO×1 DRA×1 |
| I | INR×1 |
| N | NAA×1 NAD×2 NAI×1 NAN×1 NON×1 |
| O | ORD×1 |
| P | PAI×3 PAN×2 PAP×1 PAR×5 PIA×1 POD×1 POP×1 |
| R | RAD×5 RAI×3 RAN×2 RAP×2 RIP×1 ROA×3 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| ad... | AD5 | To make more beautiful and attractive; to decorate. |
| ai..... | AI7 | The act of delivering goods, equipment, or personnel by dropping them from an aircraft in flight. |
| an..... | AN7 | A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side |
| an..... | AN7 | A robot that is designed to look and act like a human being (not necessarily a male one). |
| an... | AN5 | A negatively charged ion. |
| an.. | AN4 | Straight away; at once. |
| ap... | AP5 | Relating to bees. |
| ap...... | AP8 | Pertaining to bees or beekeeping. |
| ap... | AP5 | An article of clothing worn over the front of the torso and/or legs for protection from spills; also historically worn by Freemasons and as part of women's fashion. |
| ar... | AR5 | Great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata. |
| ar.. | AR4 | Very dry. |
| da.. | DA4 | Damn. |
| di... | DI5 | The official currency of several countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, North Macedonia, Serbia and Tunisia. |
| do.... | DO6 | Used to refer to something whose name one cannot recall: an unspecified device, gadget, part, or thing. |
| dr... | DR5 | A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole |
| in.... | IN6 | An advance into enemy territory, an attempted invasion; an encroachment, an incursion. |
| na.. | NA4 | A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine. |
| na.. | NA4 | Nothing. |
| na... | NA5 | The point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under the place of observation. |
| na... | NA5 | A female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water. |
| na.. | NA4 | A banana. |
| no..... | NO7 | For which no payment is levied. |
| or.... | OR6 | To prearrange unalterably. |
| pa.. | PA4 | simple past tense and past participle of pay |
| pa.. | PA4 | An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt. |
| pa.. | PA4 | Two similar or identical things taken together; often followed by of. |
| pa... | PA5 | The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a small raccoon-like animal of northeast Asia with reddish fur and a long, ringed tail. |
| pa.... | PA6 | A type of grilled sandwich made of a small loaf of bread, cut horizontally, filled with meat such as salami or ham, cheese or other food. |
| pa.. | PA4 | Dad, daddy, father; a familiar or old-fashioned term of address to one’s father. |
| pa..... | PA7 | a usually government-operated hostelry found especially in Spain. |
| pa...... | PA8 | A delivery of goods or equipment by dropping of a parachute |
| pa...... | PA8 | The obsolete name for a psychotic disorder, now called delusional disorder, often (in one of 6 subtypes) characterized by delusions of persecution and perceived threat against the individual affected with the disorder, and often associated with false accusations and general mistrust of others |
| pa...... † | PA8 | Of, related to, or suffering from paranoia |
| pa.... | PA6 | Forgiveness for an offence. |
| pi... | PI5 | a percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings |
| po... | PO5 | plural of podium |
| po... | PO5 | father, papa. |
| ra... | RA5 | A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of sent radio waves (usually microwaves) reflected from their surfaces |
| ra.... | RA6 | English Wikipedia has an article on:radianWikipedia In the International System of Units, the derived unit of plane angular measure of angle equal to the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc of its circumference equal in length to the radius of the circle. Symbol: rad |
| ra... | RA5 | plural of radius |
| ra... | RA5 | The technology that allows for the transmission of sound or other signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves. |
| ra... | RA5 | The chemical element (symbol Rn, formerly Ro) with atomic number 86. It is an odorless, colorless, chemically inert but radioactive noble gas. |
| ra.. | RA4 | A quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle. |
| ra.. | RA4 | Condensed water falling from a cloud. |
| ra...... † | RA8 | A single droplet of rainwater that has just fallen or is falling from the sky. |
| ra.. | RA4 | The border of an area of land, especially marshland. |
| ra.. | RA4 | The wife of a rajah. |
| ra... | RA5 | Very swift or quick. |
| ra.... | RA6 | A vegetable native to China, Brassica rapa subsp. ruvo, with green spiky leaves and a bitter taste. |
| ri...... | RI8 | Of or relating to the bank of a river or stream. |
| ro.. | RO4 | A way used for travelling between places, originally one wide enough to allow foot passengers and horses to travel, now (US) usually one surfaced with asphalt or concrete and designed to accommodate many vehicles travelling in both directions. In the UK both senses are heard: a country road is the same as a country lane. |
| ro.. | RO4 | Especially of a horse, having a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in |
| ro.. | RO4 | To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion. |
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.
- adorn (AD5)
- airdrop (AI7)
- andiron (AN7)
- android (AN7)
- anion (AN5)
- anon (AN4)
- apian (AP5)
- apiarian (AP8)
- apron (AP5)
- ardor (AR5)
- aria (AR4)
- arid (AR4)
- darn (DA4)
- dinar (DI5)
- doodad (DO6)
- drain (DR5)
- inroad (IN6)
- naan (NA4)
- nada (NA4)
- nadir (NA5)
- naiad (NA5)
- nana (NA4)
- nonpaid (NO7)
- ordain (OR6)
- paid (PA4)
- pain (PA4)
- pair (PA4)
- panda (PA5)
- panini (PA6)
- papa (PA4)
- parador (PA7)
- paradrop (PA8)
- paranoia (PA8)
- paranoid† (PA8)
- pardon (PA6)
- piano (PI5)
- podia (PO5)
- poppa (PO5)
- radar (RA5)
- radian (RA6)
- radii (RA5)
- radio (RA5)
- radon (RA5)
- raid (RA4)
- rain (RA4)
- raindrop† (RA8)
- rand (RA4)
- rani (RA4)
- rapid (RA5)
- rapini (RA6)
- riparian (RI8)
- road (RO4)
- roan (RO4)
- roar (RO4)
Answer Definitions
- adorn (verb): To make more beautiful and attractive; to decorate.
- airdrop (noun): The act of delivering goods, equipment, or personnel by dropping them from an aircraft in flight.
- andiron (noun): A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side
- android (noun): A robot that is designed to look and act like a human being (not necessarily a male one).
- anion (noun): A negatively charged ion.
- anon (adverb): Straight away; at once.
- apian (adjective): Relating to bees.
- apiarian (adjective): Pertaining to bees or beekeeping.
- apron (noun): An article of clothing worn over the front of the torso and/or legs for protection from spills; also historically worn by Freemasons and as part of women's fashion.
- ardor (noun): Great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion.
- aria (noun): A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.
- arid (adjective): Very dry.
- darn (adjective): Damn.
- dinar (noun): The official currency of several countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, North Macedonia, Serbia and Tunisia.
- doodad (noun): Used to refer to something whose name one cannot recall: an unspecified device, gadget, part, or thing.
- drain (noun): A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole
- inroad (noun): An advance into enemy territory, an attempted invasion; an encroachment, an incursion.
- naan (noun): A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
- nada (pronoun): Nothing.
- nadir (noun): The point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under the place of observation.
- naiad (noun): A female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water.
- nana (noun): A banana.
- nonpaid (adjective): For which no payment is levied.
- ordain (verb): To prearrange unalterably.
- paid (verb): simple past tense and past participle of pay
- pain (noun): An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt.
- pair (noun): Two similar or identical things taken together; often followed by of.
- panda (noun): The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a small raccoon-like animal of northeast Asia with reddish fur and a long, ringed tail.
- panini (noun): A type of grilled sandwich made of a small loaf of bread, cut horizontally, filled with meat such as salami or ham, cheese or other food.
- papa (noun): Dad, daddy, father; a familiar or old-fashioned term of address to one’s father.
- parador (noun): a usually government-operated hostelry found especially in Spain.
- paradrop (noun): A delivery of goods or equipment by dropping of a parachute
- paranoia (noun): The obsolete name for a psychotic disorder, now called delusional disorder, often (in one of 6 subtypes) characterized by delusions of persecution and perceived threat against the individual affected with the disorder, and often associated with false accusations and general mistrust of others
- paranoid† (adjective): Of, related to, or suffering from paranoia
- pardon (noun): Forgiveness for an offence.
- piano (noun): a percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings
- podia (noun): plural of podium
- poppa (noun): father, papa.
- radar (noun): A method of detecting distant objects and determining their position, velocity, or other characteristics by analysis of sent radio waves (usually microwaves) reflected from their surfaces
- radian (noun): English Wikipedia has an article on:radianWikipedia In the International System of Units, the derived unit of plane angular measure of angle equal to the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc of its circumference equal in length to the radius of the circle. Symbol: rad
- radii (noun): plural of radius
- radio (noun): The technology that allows for the transmission of sound or other signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves.
- radon (noun): The chemical element (symbol Rn, formerly Ro) with atomic number 86. It is an odorless, colorless, chemically inert but radioactive noble gas.
- raid (noun): A quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle.
- rain (noun): Condensed water falling from a cloud.
- raindrop† (noun): A single droplet of rainwater that has just fallen or is falling from the sky.
- rand (noun): The border of an area of land, especially marshland.
- rani (noun): The wife of a rajah.
- rapid (adjective): Very swift or quick.
- rapini (noun): A vegetable native to China, Brassica rapa subsp. ruvo, with green spiky leaves and a bitter taste.
- riparian (adjective): Of or relating to the bank of a river or stream.
- road (noun): A way used for travelling between places, originally one wide enough to allow foot passengers and horses to travel, now (US) usually one surfaced with asphalt or concrete and designed to accommodate many vehicles travelling in both directions. In the UK both senses are heard: a country road is the same as a country lane.
- roan (adjective): Especially of a horse, having a coat of a dark base color with individual white hairs mixed in
- roar (verb): To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.