NYT Spelling Bee Answers for August 9, 2021
Game Summary
| Center Letter | T |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, c, o, r, u, y |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 66 words |
| Total Points | 293 points |
| Genius Level | 205 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 | 3 | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| C | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | 14 |
| O | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 5 |
| R | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 9 |
| T | 15 | 6 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 26 |
| U | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Y | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | Σ | 25 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 66 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AC×3 AO×1 AR×1 AT×3 AU×3 |
|---|---|
| C | CA×6 CO×5 CU×3 |
| O | OA×1 OR×2 OU×2 |
| R | RA×2 RO×6 RU×1 |
| T | TA×10 TO×6 TR×7 TU×2 TY×1 |
| U | |
| Y | YU×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ACT×3 AOR×1 ART×1 ATT×3 AUT×3 |
|---|---|
| C | CAR×4 CAT×2 COA×3 COO×1 COU×1 CUR×2 CUT×1 |
| O | OAT×1 ORA×2 OUT×2 |
| R | RAT×2 ROO×1 ROT×4 ROU×1 RUT×1 |
| T | TAC×2 TAR×5 TAT×2 TAU×1 TOC×1 TOO×1 TOR×2 TOU×2 TRA×3 TRO×3 TRY×1 TUT×2 TYR×1 |
| U | |
| Y | YUR×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ac... | AC5 | Someone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant. |
| ac..... | AC7 | Registrar, clerk. |
| ac...... | AC8 | Something that actuates something else. |
| 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. |
| ar.. | AR4 | Inclined toward paintings, music, etc. |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| at..... | AT7 | To pull toward without touching. |
| at....... | AT9 | Something which attracts. |
| au.. | AU4 | Clipping of automatic. |
| au....... † | AU9 | A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual. |
| au...... | AU8 | An absolute ruler with infinite power. |
| ca... | CA5 | A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams. |
| ca.... | CA6 | A vegetable with a nutritious, juicy, sweet root that is often orange in colour, Daucus carota, especially the subspecies sativus in the family Apiaceae. |
| ca...... † | CA8 | Food that is intended to be eaten outside the establishment from which it is bought. |
| ca.. | CA4 | A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers. |
| ca...... | CA8 | A waterspout. |
| ca... | CA5 | With subtle hostility in an effort to hurt, annoy, or upset, particularly among women. |
| co... | CO5 | To compel, constrain, force. |
| co..... | CO7 | An organism that participates in coaction |
| co.. | CO4 | An outer garment covering the upper torso and arms. |
| co.. | CO4 | Any of various aquatic birds of the genus Fulica that are mainly black with a prominent frontal shield on the forehead. |
| co... | CO5 | An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley. |
| cu..... | CU7 | A person who manages, administers or organizes a collection, either independently or employed by a museum, library, archive or zoo. |
| cu.. | CU4 | Brief or terse, especially to the point of being rude. |
| cu.... | CU6 | Alternative form of cut-out |
| oa.. | OA4 | Containing oats. |
| or.... | OR6 | Someone who orates or delivers an oration. |
| or..... | OR7 | A private chapel or prayer room. |
| ou.... | OU6 | A loud cry or uproar. |
| ou... | OU5 | A portion of music at the end of a song; like an intro, but at the end instead of the beginning. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| 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... | RO5 | A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump. |
| ro.. | RO4 | A group of people; a crowd, a throng, a troop; in particular , a group of people accompanying or travelling with someone. |
| ru... | RU5 | Imprinted with ruts. |
| ta.. | TA4 | A Mexican snack food made of a small tortilla (soft or hard shelled) filled with ingredients such as meat, rice, beans, cheese, diced vegetables and salsa. |
| ta.. | TA4 | The sense of touch; feeling. |
| 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... | 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. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight. |
| to..... | TO7 | A piece of music (usually for a keyboard instrument) designed to emphasise the dexterity of the performer. |
| to.. | TO4 | The noise of a horn or whistle. |
| to.. | TO4 | A traditional Japanese lantern. |
| to.. | TO4 | An injury or wrong. |
| to.. | TO4 | A journey through a particular building, estate, country, etc. |
| to.. | TO4 | Someone advertising for customers in an aggressive way. |
| tr... | TR5 | An area or expanse. |
| tr..... | TR7 | A vehicle used in farms e.g. for pulling farm equipment and preparing the fields. |
| tr.. | TR4 | A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried. |
| tr.. | TR4 | An ugly old woman, a hag. |
| tr... | TR5 | Any of several species of fish in Salmonidae, closely related to salmon, and distinguished by spawning more than once. |
| tr.. | TR4 | Of, or relating to, troy weight. |
| tr.... | TR6 | A test of the suitability or effectiveness of a person or thing, especially an audition for a performer or athlete, or the advance staging of a play at a small theatre. |
| tu... | TU5 | One who teaches another (usually called a student, learner, or tutee) in a one-on-one or small-group interaction. |
| tu.. | TU4 | A ballet skirt made of layered stiff but light netting. |
| ty.. | TY4 | A beginner; a novice. |
| yu.. | YU4 | A large, round, semi-permanent tent with vertical walls and a conical roof, usually associated with Central Asia and Mongolia (where it is known as a ger). |
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.
- actor (AC5)
- actuary (AC7)
- actuator (AC8)
- aorta (AO5)
- arty (AR4)
- attar (AT5)
- attract (AT7)
- attractor (AT9)
- auto (AU4)
- autocracy† (AU9)
- autocrat (AU8)
- carat (CA5)
- carrot (CA6)
- carryout† (CA8)
- cart (CA4)
- cataract (CA8)
- catty (CA5)
- coact (CO5)
- coactor (CO7)
- coat (CO4)
- coot (CO4)
- court (CO5)
- curator (CU7)
- curt (CU4)
- cutout (CU6)
- oaty (OA4)
- orator (OR6)
- oratory (OR7)
- outcry (OU6)
- outro (OU5)
- ratatat (RA7)
- ratty (RA5)
- root (RO4)
- rotary (RO6)
- rotator (RO7)
- rotatory (RO8)
- rotor (RO5)
- rout (RO4)
- rutty (RU5)
- taco (TA4)
- tact (TA4)
- taro (TA4)
- tarot (TA5)
- tarry (TA5)
- tart (TA4)
- tartar (TA6)
- tattoo (TA6)
- tatty (TA5)
- taut (TA4)
- toccata (TO7)
- toot (TO4)
- toro (TO4)
- tort (TO4)
- tour (TO4)
- tout (TO4)
- tract (TR5)
- tractor (TR7)
- tray (TR4)
- trot (TR4)
- trout (TR5)
- troy (TR4)
- tryout (TR6)
- tutor (TU5)
- tutu (TU4)
- tyro (TY4)
- yurt (YU4)
Answer Definitions
- actor (noun): Someone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant.
- actuary (noun): Registrar, clerk.
- actuator (noun): Something that actuates something else.
- 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.
- arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- attract (verb): To pull toward without touching.
- attractor (noun): Something which attracts.
- auto (adjective): Clipping of automatic.
- autocracy† (noun): A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.
- autocrat (noun): An absolute ruler with infinite power.
- carat (noun): A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
- carrot (noun): A vegetable with a nutritious, juicy, sweet root that is often orange in colour, Daucus carota, especially the subspecies sativus in the family Apiaceae.
- carryout† (noun): Food that is intended to be eaten outside the establishment from which it is bought.
- cart (noun): A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, more often used for transporting goods than passengers.
- cataract (noun): A waterspout.
- catty (adjective): With subtle hostility in an effort to hurt, annoy, or upset, particularly among women.
- coact (verb): To compel, constrain, force.
- coactor (noun): An organism that participates in coaction
- coat (noun): An outer garment covering the upper torso and arms.
- coot (noun): Any of various aquatic birds of the genus Fulica that are mainly black with a prominent frontal shield on the forehead.
- court (noun): An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.
- curator (noun): A person who manages, administers or organizes a collection, either independently or employed by a museum, library, archive or zoo.
- curt (adjective): Brief or terse, especially to the point of being rude.
- cutout (noun): Alternative form of cut-out
- oaty (adjective): Containing oats.
- orator (noun): Someone who orates or delivers an oration.
- oratory (noun): A private chapel or prayer room.
- outcry (noun): A loud cry or uproar.
- outro (noun): A portion of music at the end of a song; like an intro, but at the end instead of the beginning.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- 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
- rotor (noun): A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
- rout (noun): A group of people; a crowd, a throng, a troop; in particular , a group of people accompanying or travelling with someone.
- rutty (adjective): Imprinted with ruts.
- taco (noun): A Mexican snack food made of a small tortilla (soft or hard shelled) filled with ingredients such as meat, rice, beans, cheese, diced vegetables and salsa.
- tact (noun): The sense of touch; feeling.
- 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.
- 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.
- taut (adjective): Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
- toccata (noun): A piece of music (usually for a keyboard instrument) designed to emphasise the dexterity of the performer.
- toot (noun): The noise of a horn or whistle.
- toro (noun): A traditional Japanese lantern.
- tort (noun): An injury or wrong.
- tour (noun): A journey through a particular building, estate, country, etc.
- tout (noun): Someone advertising for customers in an aggressive way.
- tract (noun): An area or expanse.
- tractor (noun): A vehicle used in farms e.g. for pulling farm equipment and preparing the fields.
- tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
- trot (noun): An ugly old woman, a hag.
- trout (noun): Any of several species of fish in Salmonidae, closely related to salmon, and distinguished by spawning more than once.
- troy (adjective): Of, or relating to, troy weight.
- tryout (noun): A test of the suitability or effectiveness of a person or thing, especially an audition for a performer or athlete, or the advance staging of a play at a small theatre.
- tutor (noun): One who teaches another (usually called a student, learner, or tutee) in a one-on-one or small-group interaction.
- tutu (noun): A ballet skirt made of layered stiff but light netting.
- tyro (noun): A beginner; a novice.
- yurt (noun): A large, round, semi-permanent tent with vertical walls and a conical roof, usually associated with Central Asia and Mongolia (where it is known as a ger).