NYT Spelling Bee Answers for April 23, 2021
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, c, e, n, o, w |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 58 words |
| Total Points | 219 points |
| Genius Level | 153 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</th><th>9 | Σ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 8 |
| C | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| E | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 2 |
| L | 9 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 13 |
| N | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 3 |
| O | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| W | 5 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 7 | Σ | 27 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 58 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×5 AN×3 |
|---|---|
| C | CA×7 CE×2 CL×6 CO×9 |
| E | EL×1 EN×1 |
| L | LA×4 LE×1 LL×1 LO×7 |
| N | NE×1 NO×2 |
| O | OL×1 |
| W | WA×3 WE×2 WO×2 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALL×3 ALO×2 ANA×1 ANN×2 |
|---|---|
| C | CAL×4 CAN×3 CEL×2 CLA×2 CLE×1 CLO×3 COA×1 COL×5 CON×1 COO×1 COW×1 |
| E | ELA×1 ENL×1 |
| L | LAC×1 LAN×2 LAW×1 LEA×1 LLA×1 LOA×1 LOC×3 LOL×1 LON×1 LOO×1 |
| N | NEW×1 NOE×1 NON×1 |
| O | OLE×1 |
| W | WAL×3 WEA×1 WEL×1 WOO×2 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| al.... | AL6 | One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome. |
| al... | AL5 | To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have. |
| al....... † | AL9 | Permission; granting, conceding, or admitting |
| al.. | AL4 | The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica. |
| al... | AL5 | By oneself, solitary. |
| an.. | AN4 | of, related to, intended for or involving the anus. |
| an... | AN5 | The record of a single event or item. |
| an.... | AN6 | To subject to great heat and then (often slow) cooling, and sometimes reheating and further cooling, for the purpose of rendering less brittle; to temper; to toughen. |
| ca.. | CA4 | A telephone conversation; a phone call. |
| ca... | CA5 | A marsh plant native to cooler areas throughout the northern hemisphere, Calla palustris, having pale green flowers in a white spathe. |
| ca...... | CA8 | Any of various tropical plants grown in the Americas, especially of the genera Amaranthus and Xanthosoma, cultivated for their edible leaves. |
| ca.... | CA6 | Bald, hairless, bare. |
| ca... | CA5 | An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel, shipping, or irrigation. |
| ca.... | CA6 | To cross out something with lines etc. |
| ca.... | CA6 | Any of a number of cultivars of rapeseed (Brassica napus) and closely related field mustard (Brassica rapa), which have a lower erucic acid and glucosinolate content than traditional rapeseed. |
| ce.. | CE4 | A single-room dwelling for a hermit. |
| ce... | CE5 | A large unfretted stringed instrument of the violin family with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) C-G-D-A and an endpin to support its weight, usually played with a bow. |
| cl.. | CL4 | A group of people all descended from a common ancestor, in fact or belief, especially when the exact genealogies are not known. |
| cl.. | CL4 | A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird. |
| cl... | CL5 | Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances. Not dirty. |
| cl.... | CL6 | A sewer. |
| cl... | CL5 | A living organism (originally a plant) produced asexually from a single ancestor, to which it is genetically identical. |
| cl... | CL5 | A slapstick performance artist often associated with a circus and usually characterized by bright, oversized clothing, a red nose, face paint, and a brightly colored wig. |
| co.. | CO4 | A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel. |
| co.. | CO4 | The kola plant, genus Cola, famous for its nut, or one of these nuts. |
| co....... | CO9 | A traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes and cabbage or kale, with scallions, butter, salt and pepper added. |
| co..... | CO7 | girl |
| co... | CO5 | The punctuation mark ":". |
| co..... | CO7 | A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines). |
| co..... | CO7 | To hide something from view or from public knowledge, to try to keep something secret. |
| co.. | CO4 | Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold. |
| co.. | CO4 | A monk's hood that can be pulled forward to cover the face; a robe with such a hood attached to it. |
| el.. | EL4 | Uncommon spelling of élan. |
| en.... | EN6 | To bind or encircle with lace, or as with lace |
| la.. | LA4 | A light fabric containing patterns of holes, usually built up from a single thread. |
| la... | LA5 | A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen. |
| la.. | LA4 | A road, street, or similar thoroughfare. |
| la.. | LA4 | An open space between woods. |
| le.. | LE4 | To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating. |
| ll... | LL5 | A plain or steppe in parts of Latin America. |
| lo.. | LO4 | An act or instance of lending, an act or instance of granting something for temporary use. |
| lo... | LO5 | From or in a nearby location. |
| lo.... | LO6 | The place where something happens. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A direction in written or printed music to be returning to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher or lower. |
| lo.. | LO4 | To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease. |
| lo.. | LO4 | Solitary; having no companion. |
| lo.. | LO4 | An idler, a lout. |
| ne... | NE5 | A central pillar around which a staircase spirals. |
| no.. | NO4 | A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol. |
| no...... | NO8 | Not local; not specific to a location |
| 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. |
| wa.. | WA4 | A ridge or low barrier. |
| wa.. | WA4 | A rampart of earth, stones etc. built up for defensive purposes. |
| wa.... | WA6 | To roll oneself about in something dirty, for example in mud. |
| we.. | WE4 | Wealth, riches. |
| we.. | WE4 | Accurately, competently, satisfactorily. |
| wo.. | WO4 | The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants. |
| wo.... | WO6 | Made of wool. |
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.
- allele (AL6)
- allow (AL5)
- allowance† (AL9)
- aloe (AL4)
- alone (AL5)
- anal (AN4)
- annal (AN5)
- anneal (AN6)
- call (CA4)
- calla (CA5)
- callaloo (CA8)
- callow (CA6)
- canal (CA5)
- cancel (CA6)
- canola (CA6)
- cell (CE4)
- cello (CE5)
- clan (CL4)
- claw (CL4)
- clean (CL5)
- cloaca (CL6)
- clone (CL5)
- clown (CL5)
- coal (CO4)
- cola (CO4)
- colcannon (CO9)
- colleen (CO7)
- colon (CO5)
- colonel (CO7)
- conceal (CO7)
- cool (CO4)
- cowl (CO4)
- elan (EL4)
- enlace (EN6)
- lace (LA4)
- lance (LA5)
- lane (LA4)
- lawn (LA4)
- lean (LE4)
- llano (LL5)
- loan (LO4)
- local (LO5)
- locale (LO6)
- loco (LO4)
- loll (LO4)
- lone (LO4)
- loon (LO4)
- newel (NE5)
- noel (NO4)
- nonlocal (NO8)
- oleo (OL4)
- wale (WA4)
- wall (WA4)
- wallow (WA6)
- weal (WE4)
- well (WE4)
- wool (WO4)
- woolen (WO6)
Answer Definitions
- allele (noun): One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome.
- allow (verb): To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have.
- allowance† (noun): Permission; granting, conceding, or admitting
- aloe (noun): The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica.
- alone (adjective): By oneself, solitary.
- anal (adjective): of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.
- annal (noun): The record of a single event or item.
- anneal (verb): To subject to great heat and then (often slow) cooling, and sometimes reheating and further cooling, for the purpose of rendering less brittle; to temper; to toughen.
- call (noun): A telephone conversation; a phone call.
- calla (noun): A marsh plant native to cooler areas throughout the northern hemisphere, Calla palustris, having pale green flowers in a white spathe.
- callaloo (noun): Any of various tropical plants grown in the Americas, especially of the genera Amaranthus and Xanthosoma, cultivated for their edible leaves.
- callow (adjective): Bald, hairless, bare.
- canal (noun): An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel, shipping, or irrigation.
- cancel (verb): To cross out something with lines etc.
- canola (noun): Any of a number of cultivars of rapeseed (Brassica napus) and closely related field mustard (Brassica rapa), which have a lower erucic acid and glucosinolate content than traditional rapeseed.
- cell (noun): A single-room dwelling for a hermit.
- cello (noun): A large unfretted stringed instrument of the violin family with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) C-G-D-A and an endpin to support its weight, usually played with a bow.
- clan (noun): A group of people all descended from a common ancestor, in fact or belief, especially when the exact genealogies are not known.
- claw (noun): A curved, pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird.
- clean (adjective): Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances. Not dirty.
- cloaca (noun): A sewer.
- clone (noun): A living organism (originally a plant) produced asexually from a single ancestor, to which it is genetically identical.
- clown (noun): A slapstick performance artist often associated with a circus and usually characterized by bright, oversized clothing, a red nose, face paint, and a brightly colored wig.
- coal (noun): A black or brownish black rock formed from prehistoric plant remains, composed largely of carbon and burned as a fuel.
- cola (noun): The kola plant, genus Cola, famous for its nut, or one of these nuts.
- colcannon (noun): A traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes and cabbage or kale, with scallions, butter, salt and pepper added.
- colleen (noun): girl
- colon (noun): The punctuation mark ":".
- colonel (noun): A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines).
- conceal (verb): To hide something from view or from public knowledge, to try to keep something secret.
- cool (adjective): Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
- cowl (noun): A monk's hood that can be pulled forward to cover the face; a robe with such a hood attached to it.
- elan (noun): Uncommon spelling of élan.
- enlace (verb): To bind or encircle with lace, or as with lace
- lace (noun): A light fabric containing patterns of holes, usually built up from a single thread.
- lance (noun): A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen.
- lane (noun): A road, street, or similar thoroughfare.
- lawn (noun): An open space between woods.
- lean (verb): To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
- llano (noun): A plain or steppe in parts of Latin America.
- loan (noun): An act or instance of lending, an act or instance of granting something for temporary use.
- local (adjective): From or in a nearby location.
- locale (noun): The place where something happens.
- loco (adverb): A direction in written or printed music to be returning to the proper pitch after having played an octave higher or lower.
- loll (verb): To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease.
- lone (adjective): Solitary; having no companion.
- loon (noun): An idler, a lout.
- newel (noun): A central pillar around which a staircase spirals.
- noel (noun): A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol.
- nonlocal (adjective): Not local; not specific to a location
- 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.
- wale (noun): A ridge or low barrier.
- wall (noun): A rampart of earth, stones etc. built up for defensive purposes.
- wallow (verb): To roll oneself about in something dirty, for example in mud.
- weal (noun): Wealth, riches.
- well (adverb): Accurately, competently, satisfactorily.
- wool (noun): The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants.
- woolen (adjective): Made of wool.