NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 6, 2020

calendar Dec 6, 2020 · 12 min read · spelling bee  ·
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Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2020
Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2020

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for December 6, 2020
Center LetterI
Outer Lettersa, e, m, n, t, y
# of Pangrams2 (Perfect: 2)
Total Words64 words
Total Points309 points
Genius Level216 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 December 6, 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>8</th><th>9</th><th>10Σ
A1324--111
E1-21---4
I323231-14
M93412--19
N211-1--5
T4321---10
Y1------1
Σ211214961164

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

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

A
AM×2
AN×6
AT×3
E
EM×2
EN×2
I
IM×3
IN×9
IT×2
M
MA×5
ME×2
MI×12
N
NI×5
T
TA×3
TE×1
TI×6
Y
YE×1

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

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

A
AME×1
AMI×1
ANE×1
ANI×3
ANT×1
ANY×1
ATT×3
E
EMI×2
ENM×1
ENT×1
I
IMA×1
IMI×1
IMM×1
INA×3
INI×1
INM×1
INN×2
INT×2
ITE×1
ITT×1
M
MAI×3
MAN×1
MAT×1
MEA×2
MIE×1
MIM×1
MIN×7
MIT×3
N
NIN×4
NIT×1
T
TAI×1
TAN×1
TAT×1
TEA×1
TIM×1
TIN×4
TIT×1
Y
YET×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)
am..... †AM7Pleasantness.
am...AM5Friendship. The cooperative and supportive relationship between people, or animals. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis.
an....AN6A medical condition in which the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen to the tissues is reduced, either because of too few red blood cells, or because of too little hemoglobin, resulting in pallor and fatigue.
an...AN5The soul or animating principle of a living thing, especially as contrasted with the animus.
an.....AN7That which lives.
an...AN5An artistic style originating in, and associated with, Japanese animation, and that has also been adopted by a comparatively low number of animated works from other countries.
an..AN4Opposed to something.
an..... †AN7At any time
at....AT6To gain (an object or desired result).
at........AT10The act of attaining; the act of arriving at or reaching; the act of obtaining by exertion or effort.
at.....AT7Convicted, attainted.
em.....EM7Noteworthy, remarkable, great.
em..EM4to send out or give off
en....EN6The quality of being an enemy; hostile or unfriendly disposition.
en....EN6That which has a distinct existence as an individual unit. Often used for organisations which have no physical form.
im..IM4One who leads the salat prayers in a mosque.
im.....IM7To follow as a model or a pattern; to make a copy, counterpart or semblance of.
im......IM8about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
in...IN5Lacking sense or meaning (often to the point of boredom or annoyance)
in.......IN9Lacking the quality or ability of motion; as an inanimate object.
in.....IN7The property of lacking sense or meaning (often to the point of boredom or annoyance).
in......IN8A new member of an organization.
in....IN6A person confined to an institution such as a prison (as a convict) or hospital (as a patient).
in....IN6Inborn; existing or having existed since birth.
in...IN5A navel that is formed of a hollow in the abdomen (as opposed to one that protrudes from the abdomen).
in....IN6Something that is intended.
in......IN8Closely acquainted; familiar.
it..IT4A distinct physical object.
it..IT4Extremely small.
ma..MA4To wound seriously; to cause permanent loss of function of a limb or part of the body.
ma..MA4Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
ma......MA8To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.
ma...MA5Violent derangement of mind; madness; insanity.
ma.....MA7A showing of a movie, sporting event, or theatrical performance in the morning or afternoon.
me....ME6A mean (unkind or miserly) person; a killjoy.
me......ME8The time spent waiting for another event; time in between.
mi..MI4Demeanor; facial expression or attitude, especially one which is intended by its bearer.
mi..MI4A form of acting without words; pantomime.
mi..MI4That which belongs to me. Used predicatively.
mi..MI4Miniature, tiny, small.
mi...MI5A half note, drawn as a semibreve with a stem.
mi....MI6plural of minimum
mi..MI4A building or institution where money (originally, only coins) is produced under government licence.
mi...MI5Having a flavour or essence of mint.
mi....MI6The minimum number of ten (male) adult Jews required for a communal religious service.
mi..MI4Any of many minute arachnids which, along with the ticks, comprise subclass Acarina (aka Acari).
mi..MI4A mitten
mi....MI6A type of glove or garment that covers a hand with a separate sheath for the thumb, but not for other fingers, which are either enclosed in a single section or left uncovered.
ni..NI4NATO &amp; ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 9.
ni......NI8The cardinal number occurring after eighteen and before twenty, represented in Roman numerals as XIX and in Arabic numerals as 19. It is the last/largest of the "teens".
ni....NI6The cardinal number occurring after eighty-nine and before ninety-one, represented in Roman numerals as XC and in Arabic numerals as 90.
ni...NI5A silly or foolish person.
ni..NI4Informal spelling of night.
ta...TA5A contamination, decay or putrefaction, especially in food.
ta....TA6Tannic acid or any of its derivatives.
ta....TA6Straw matting, in a standard size, used as a floor covering in Japanese houses.
te.....TE7The traditional time, in the late afternoon, for serving tea (the meal).
ti..TI4The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events.
ti..TI4A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb.
ti...TI5having a displeasingly thin, metallic sound.
ti..TI4A slight coloring.
ti..TI4Very small.
ti...TI5Something or someone of very large stature, greatness, or godliness.
ye..YE4An unidentified humanoid animal said to live in the Himalayas.

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.

  • amenity†  (AM7)
  • amity  (AM5)
  • anemia  (AN6)
  • anima  (AN5)
  • animate  (AN7)
  • anime  (AN5)
  • anti  (AN4)
  • anytime†  (AN7)
  • attain  (AT6)
  • attainment  (AT10)
  • attaint  (AT7)
  • eminent  (EM7)
  • emit  (EM4)
  • enmity  (EN6)
  • entity  (EN6)
  • imam  (IM4)
  • imitate  (IM7)
  • imminent  (IM8)
  • inane  (IN5)
  • inanimate  (IN9)
  • inanity  (IN7)
  • initiate  (IN8)
  • inmate  (IN6)
  • innate  (IN6)
  • innie  (IN5)
  • intent  (IN6)
  • intimate  (IN8)
  • item  (IT4)
  • itty  (IT4)
  • maim  (MA4)
  • main  (MA4)
  • maintain  (MA8)
  • mania  (MA5)
  • matinee  (MA7)
  • meanie  (ME6)
  • meantime  (ME8)
  • mien  (MI4)
  • mime  (MI4)
  • mine  (MI4)
  • mini  (MI4)
  • minim  (MI5)
  • minima  (MI6)
  • mint  (MI4)
  • minty  (MI5)
  • minyan  (MI6)
  • mite  (MI4)
  • mitt  (MI4)
  • mitten  (MI6)
  • nine  (NI4)
  • nineteen  (NI8)
  • ninety  (NI6)
  • ninny  (NI5)
  • nite  (NI4)
  • taint  (TA5)
  • tannin  (TA6)
  • tatami  (TA6)
  • teatime  (TE7)
  • time  (TI4)
  • tine  (TI4)
  • tinny  (TI5)
  • tint  (TI4)
  • tiny  (TI4)
  • titan  (TI5)
  • yeti  (YE4)

Answer Definitions

  • amenity† (noun): Pleasantness.
  • amity (noun): Friendship. The cooperative and supportive relationship between people, or animals. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis.
  • anemia (noun): A medical condition in which the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen to the tissues is reduced, either because of too few red blood cells, or because of too little hemoglobin, resulting in pallor and fatigue.
  • anima (noun): The soul or animating principle of a living thing, especially as contrasted with the animus.
  • animate (adjective): That which lives.
  • anime (noun): An artistic style originating in, and associated with, Japanese animation, and that has also been adopted by a comparatively low number of animated works from other countries.
  • anti (adjective): Opposed to something.
  • anytime† (adverb): At any time
  • attain (verb): To gain (an object or desired result).
  • attainment (noun): The act of attaining; the act of arriving at or reaching; the act of obtaining by exertion or effort.
  • attaint (adjective): Convicted, attainted.
  • eminent (adjective): Noteworthy, remarkable, great.
  • emit (verb): to send out or give off
  • enmity (noun): The quality of being an enemy; hostile or unfriendly disposition.
  • entity (noun): That which has a distinct existence as an individual unit. Often used for organisations which have no physical form.
  • imam (noun): One who leads the salat prayers in a mosque.
  • imitate (verb): To follow as a model or a pattern; to make a copy, counterpart or semblance of.
  • imminent (adjective): about to happen, occur, or take place very soon, especially of something which won't last long.
  • inane (adjective): Lacking sense or meaning (often to the point of boredom or annoyance)
  • inanimate (adjective): Lacking the quality or ability of motion; as an inanimate object.
  • inanity (noun): The property of lacking sense or meaning (often to the point of boredom or annoyance).
  • initiate (noun): A new member of an organization.
  • inmate (noun): A person confined to an institution such as a prison (as a convict) or hospital (as a patient).
  • innate (adjective): Inborn; existing or having existed since birth.
  • innie (noun): A navel that is formed of a hollow in the abdomen (as opposed to one that protrudes from the abdomen).
  • intent (noun): Something that is intended.
  • intimate (adjective): Closely acquainted; familiar.
  • item (noun): A distinct physical object.
  • itty (adjective): Extremely small.
  • maim (verb): To wound seriously; to cause permanent loss of function of a limb or part of the body.
  • main (adjective): Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
  • maintain (verb): To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.
  • mania (noun): Violent derangement of mind; madness; insanity.
  • matinee (noun): A showing of a movie, sporting event, or theatrical performance in the morning or afternoon.
  • meanie (noun): A mean (unkind or miserly) person; a killjoy.
  • meantime (noun): The time spent waiting for another event; time in between.
  • mien (noun): Demeanor; facial expression or attitude, especially one which is intended by its bearer.
  • mime (noun): A form of acting without words; pantomime.
  • mine (pronoun): That which belongs to me. Used predicatively.
  • mini (adjective): Miniature, tiny, small.
  • minim (noun): A half note, drawn as a semibreve with a stem.
  • minima (noun): plural of minimum
  • mint (noun): A building or institution where money (originally, only coins) is produced under government licence.
  • minty (adjective): Having a flavour or essence of mint.
  • minyan (noun): The minimum number of ten (male) adult Jews required for a communal religious service.
  • mite (noun): Any of many minute arachnids which, along with the ticks, comprise subclass Acarina (aka Acari).
  • mitt (noun): A mitten
  • mitten (noun): A type of glove or garment that covers a hand with a separate sheath for the thumb, but not for other fingers, which are either enclosed in a single section or left uncovered.
  • nine (numeral): NATO &amp; ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 9.
  • nineteen (numeral): The cardinal number occurring after eighteen and before twenty, represented in Roman numerals as XIX and in Arabic numerals as 19. It is the last/largest of the "teens".
  • ninety (numeral): The cardinal number occurring after eighty-nine and before ninety-one, represented in Roman numerals as XC and in Arabic numerals as 90.
  • ninny (noun): A silly or foolish person.
  • nite (noun): Informal spelling of night.
  • taint (noun): A contamination, decay or putrefaction, especially in food.
  • tannin (noun): Tannic acid or any of its derivatives.
  • tatami (noun): Straw matting, in a standard size, used as a floor covering in Japanese houses.
  • teatime (noun): The traditional time, in the late afternoon, for serving tea (the meal).
  • time (noun): The inevitable progression into the future with the passing of present and past events.
  • tine (noun): A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb.
  • tinny (adjective): having a displeasingly thin, metallic sound.
  • tint (noun): A slight coloring.
  • tiny (adjective): Very small.
  • titan (noun): Something or someone of very large stature, greatness, or godliness.
  • yeti (noun): An unidentified humanoid animal said to live in the Himalayas.