NYT Spelling Bee Answers for March 21, 2021
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | e, n, o, p, t, u |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 58 words |
| Total Points | 211 points |
| Genius Level | 148 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| L | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - | 18 |
| N | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| O | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 4 |
| P | 11 | 1 | 5 | 3 | - | 20 |
| T | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| U | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | Σ | 29 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 58 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| E | EL×1 |
|---|---|
| L | LE×3 LO×10 LU×5 |
| N | NE×1 NO×1 NU×1 |
| O | OL×1 OP×1 OU×2 |
| P | PE×6 PL×2 PO×7 PU×5 |
| T | TE×3 TO×5 TU×3 |
| U | UN×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| E | ELO×1 |
|---|---|
| L | LEN×2 LET×1 LOL×2 LON×1 LOO×3 LOP×1 LOT×1 LOU×2 LUL×2 LUN×2 LUT×1 |
| N | NET×1 NOE×1 NUL×1 |
| O | OLE×1 OPU×1 OUT×2 |
| P | PEE×1 PEL×3 PEN×1 PEO×1 PLO×2 POL×5 POO×1 POU×1 PUL×5 |
| T | TEL×2 TEN×1 TOL×2 TOO×2 TOP×1 TUL×1 TUN×1 TUP×1 |
| U | UNL×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 (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| el... | EL5 | To run away from home with a paramour. |
| le.. | LE4 | Alternative letter-case form of Lent |
| le... | LE5 | Slow (45–60 bpm). |
| le... | LE5 | A pause or period of slackening. |
| lo.. | LO4 | To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease. |
| lo.... | LO6 | To walk or move with a bouncing or undulating motion and at an unhurried pace. |
| lo.. | LO4 | Solitary; having no companion. |
| lo.. | LO4 | An idler, a lout. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A length of thread, line or rope that is doubled over to make an opening. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks. |
| lo.. | LO4 | To travel an easy pace with long strides. |
| lo... | LO5 | a game of chance similar to bingo |
| lo... | LO5 | A magnifying glass, usually mounted in an eyepiece, often used by jewellers and watchmakers. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A troublemaker, often violent; a rude violent person; a yob. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A period of rest or soothing. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A remarkable person, object or idea. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak. |
| lu..... | LU7 | A small opening in a vaulted roof of a circular or crescent shape. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A fretted stringed instrument of European origin, similar to the guitar, having a bowl-shaped body or soundbox; any of a wide variety of chordophones with a pear-shaped body and a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard. |
| ne.... | NE6 | Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash. Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, the stinging nettles: Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle), Urtica incisa (Australian nettle); Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis); Bull nettles and spurge nettles of genus Cnidoscolus: Cnidoscolus stimulosus, bull nettle, spurge nettle, Cnidoscolus texanus, Texas bull nettle, Cnidoscolus urens, bull nettle, Nettle trees or tree nettles: Various species of the genus Dendrocnide: Urera baccifera (scratchbush), Urtica ferox (tree nettle); rock nettle (Eucnide); small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla). |
| no.. | NO4 | A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol. |
| nu.. | NU4 | A non-existent or empty value or set of values. |
| ol.. | OL4 | A type of energy-absorbing landing gear strut in which sudden compression or extension of the strut causes a gas-filled chamber to push or pull a piston which forces oil through a small orifice, resulting in absorption of energy through viscous effects. |
| op..... † | OP7 | Luxuriant, and ostentatiously magnificent. |
| ou.... | OU6 | A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something. |
| ou..... | OU7 | To defeat in a poll. |
| pe.. | PE4 | To remove the skin or outer covering of. |
| pe.... | PE6 | A small, compressed, hard chunk of matter. |
| pe..... | PE7 | A group of riders formed during a cycling road race; especially, the main group of riders; the pack. |
| pe.. | PE4 | The skin of a beast with the hair on; a raw or undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it. |
| pe.... | PE6 | The next-to-last syllable of a word. |
| pe.... | PE6 | Used as plural of person; a body of human beings considered generally or collectively; a group of two or more persons. |
| pl.. | PL4 | A sound or action like liquid hitting a hard surface, or an object falling into a body of water. |
| pl.. | PL4 | The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means. |
| po.. | PO4 | Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes. |
| po.. | PO4 | A survey of people, usually statistically analyzed to gauge wider public opinion. |
| po.... | PO6 | A fine granular substance produced in flowers. Technically a collective term for pollen grains (microspores) produced in the anthers of flowering plants. (This specific usage dating from mid 18th century.) |
| po..... | PO7 | To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product. |
| po.. | PO4 | A ball game where two teams of players on horseback use long-handled mallets to propel the ball along the ground and into their opponent's goal. |
| po.. | PO4 | A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water. |
| po... | PO5 | A young bird, a chick; now especially, a young game bird (turkey, partridge, grouse etc.). |
| pu.. | PU4 | A plaintive melancholy whine. |
| pu.. | PU4 | To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force. |
| pu.... | PU6 | A young hen, especially one less than a year old. |
| pu..... | PU7 | A withdrawal, especially of armed forces. |
| pu.. | PU4 | A soft, moist, shapeless mass or matter. A mixture of wood, cellulose and/or rags and water ground up to make paper. A mass of chemically processed wood fibres (cellulose). A suspension of mineral particles, typically achieved by some form of agitation. The soft center of a fruit. |
| te.. | TE4 | To count, reckon, or enumerate. |
| te.... | TE6 | A network protocol that enables one computer to communicate with another via the Internet; the program that acts as the client in this situation |
| te...... | TE8 | One of the poles used to hold up a tent. |
| to.. | TO4 | Loss or damage incurred through a disaster. |
| to..... | TO7 | A colourless, inflammable liquid hydrocarbon, methylbenzene, CH3.C6H5, used as a solvent, in high-octane fuels and in the production of many chemical compounds. |
| to.. | TO4 | A mechanical device intended to make a task easier. |
| to.... | TO6 | To make a soft toot sound. |
| to.... | TO6 | To push, throw over, overturn or overthrow something. |
| tu... | TU5 | A kind of silk lace or light netting, used for clothing, veils, etc. |
| tu.... | TU6 | An underground or underwater passage. |
| tu.... | TU6 | Any of several trees of the genus Nyssa which grow in swampy regions on the eastern, southern and midwestern United States. Nyssa aquatica. Nyssa multiflora, a North American tree of the dogwood family, with brilliant, glossy foliage and acid red berries. |
| un... | UN5 | Not let (not in temporary possession in return for rent) |
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.
- elope (EL5)
- lent (LE4)
- lento (LE5)
- letup (LE5)
- loll (LO4)
- lollop (LO6)
- lone (LO4)
- loon (LO4)
- loop (LO4)
- loot (LO4)
- lope (LO4)
- lotto (LO5)
- loupe (LO5)
- lout (LO4)
- lull (LU4)
- lulu (LU4)
- lune (LU4)
- lunette (LU7)
- lute (LU4)
- nettle (NE6)
- noel (NO4)
- null (NU4)
- oleo (OL4)
- opulent† (OP7)
- outlet (OU6)
- outpoll (OU7)
- peel (PE4)
- pellet (PE6)
- peloton (PE7)
- pelt (PE4)
- penult (PE6)
- people (PE6)
- plop (PL4)
- plot (PL4)
- pole (PO4)
- poll (PO4)
- pollen (PO6)
- pollute (PO7)
- polo (PO4)
- pool (PO4)
- poult (PO5)
- pule (PU4)
- pull (PU4)
- pullet (PU6)
- pullout (PU7)
- pulp (PU4)
- tell (TE4)
- telnet (TE6)
- tentpole (TE8)
- toll (TO4)
- toluene (TO7)
- tool (TO4)
- tootle (TO6)
- topple (TO6)
- tulle (TU5)
- tunnel (TU6)
- tupelo (TU6)
- unlet (UN5)
Answer Definitions
- elope (verb): To run away from home with a paramour.
- lent (noun): Alternative letter-case form of Lent
- lento (adjective): Slow (45–60 bpm).
- letup (noun): A pause or period of slackening.
- loll (verb): To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease.
- lollop (verb): To walk or move with a bouncing or undulating motion and at an unhurried pace.
- lone (adjective): Solitary; having no companion.
- loon (noun): An idler, a lout.
- loop (noun): A length of thread, line or rope that is doubled over to make an opening.
- loot (noun): A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
- lope (verb): To travel an easy pace with long strides.
- lotto (noun): a game of chance similar to bingo
- loupe (noun): A magnifying glass, usually mounted in an eyepiece, often used by jewellers and watchmakers.
- lout (noun): A troublemaker, often violent; a rude violent person; a yob.
- lull (noun): A period of rest or soothing.
- lulu (noun): A remarkable person, object or idea.
- lune (noun): A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak.
- lunette (noun): A small opening in a vaulted roof of a circular or crescent shape.
- lute (noun): A fretted stringed instrument of European origin, similar to the guitar, having a bowl-shaped body or soundbox; any of a wide variety of chordophones with a pear-shaped body and a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard.
- nettle (noun): Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash. Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, the stinging nettles: Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle), Urtica incisa (Australian nettle); Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis); Bull nettles and spurge nettles of genus Cnidoscolus: Cnidoscolus stimulosus, bull nettle, spurge nettle, Cnidoscolus texanus, Texas bull nettle, Cnidoscolus urens, bull nettle, Nettle trees or tree nettles: Various species of the genus Dendrocnide: Urera baccifera (scratchbush), Urtica ferox (tree nettle); rock nettle (Eucnide); small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla).
- noel (noun): A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol.
- null (noun): A non-existent or empty value or set of values.
- oleo (noun): A type of energy-absorbing landing gear strut in which sudden compression or extension of the strut causes a gas-filled chamber to push or pull a piston which forces oil through a small orifice, resulting in absorption of energy through viscous effects.
- opulent† (adjective): Luxuriant, and ostentatiously magnificent.
- outlet (noun): A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something.
- outpoll (verb): To defeat in a poll.
- peel (verb): To remove the skin or outer covering of.
- pellet (noun): A small, compressed, hard chunk of matter.
- peloton (noun): A group of riders formed during a cycling road race; especially, the main group of riders; the pack.
- pelt (noun): The skin of a beast with the hair on; a raw or undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it.
- penult (noun): The next-to-last syllable of a word.
- people (noun): Used as plural of person; a body of human beings considered generally or collectively; a group of two or more persons.
- plop (noun): A sound or action like liquid hitting a hard surface, or an object falling into a body of water.
- plot (noun): The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
- pole (noun): Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes.
- poll (noun): A survey of people, usually statistically analyzed to gauge wider public opinion.
- pollen (noun): A fine granular substance produced in flowers. Technically a collective term for pollen grains (microspores) produced in the anthers of flowering plants. (This specific usage dating from mid 18th century.)
- pollute (verb): To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.
- polo (noun): A ball game where two teams of players on horseback use long-handled mallets to propel the ball along the ground and into their opponent's goal.
- pool (noun): A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water.
- poult (noun): A young bird, a chick; now especially, a young game bird (turkey, partridge, grouse etc.).
- pule (noun): A plaintive melancholy whine.
- pull (verb): To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.
- pullet (noun): A young hen, especially one less than a year old.
- pullout (noun): A withdrawal, especially of armed forces.
- pulp (noun): A soft, moist, shapeless mass or matter. A mixture of wood, cellulose and/or rags and water ground up to make paper. A mass of chemically processed wood fibres (cellulose). A suspension of mineral particles, typically achieved by some form of agitation. The soft center of a fruit.
- tell (verb): To count, reckon, or enumerate.
- telnet (noun): A network protocol that enables one computer to communicate with another via the Internet; the program that acts as the client in this situation
- tentpole (noun): One of the poles used to hold up a tent.
- toll (noun): Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
- toluene (noun): A colourless, inflammable liquid hydrocarbon, methylbenzene, CH3.C6H5, used as a solvent, in high-octane fuels and in the production of many chemical compounds.
- tool (noun): A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
- tootle (verb): To make a soft toot sound.
- topple (verb): To push, throw over, overturn or overthrow something.
- tulle (noun): A kind of silk lace or light netting, used for clothing, veils, etc.
- tunnel (noun): An underground or underwater passage.
- tupelo (noun): Any of several trees of the genus Nyssa which grow in swampy regions on the eastern, southern and midwestern United States. Nyssa aquatica. Nyssa multiflora, a North American tree of the dogwood family, with brilliant, glossy foliage and acid red berries.
- unlet (adjective): Not let (not in temporary possession in return for rent)