NYT Spelling Bee Answers for September 15, 2021
Game Summary
| Center Letter | I |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, d, l, n, o, r |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 54 words |
| Total Points | 206 points |
| Genius Level | 144 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 | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 7 |
| D | 3 | 5 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 10 |
| I | 2 | - | 4 | - | - | - | 6 |
| L | 7 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 9 |
| N | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 |
| O | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
| R | 8 | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 13 | Σ | 26 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 54 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AI×1 AN×3 AR×3 |
|---|---|
| D | DI×6 DO×1 DR×3 |
| I | ID×1 IN×4 IR×1 |
| L | LA×5 LI×3 LO×1 |
| N | NA×3 NO×2 |
| O | OL×1 ON×1 OR×2 |
| R | RA×9 RI×3 RO×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | AIO×1 AND×2 ANI×1 ARI×3 |
|---|---|
| D | DIA×1 DIL×2 DIN×2 DIR×1 DOO×1 DRA×1 DRI×1 DRO×1 |
| I | IDO×1 IND×1 INL×2 INR×1 IRO×1 |
| L | LAI×3 LAN×2 LIA×1 LIO×1 LIR×1 LOI×1 |
| N | NAD×1 NAI×2 NOI×1 NON×1 |
| O | OLI×1 ONI×1 ORD×2 |
| R | RAD×4 RAI×4 RAN×1 RIA×1 RIL×1 RIN×1 ROI×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ai... | AI5 | A type of sauce, similar to mayonnaise, made from garlic, egg, lemon juice and olive oil. |
| 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. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata. |
| ar.. | AR4 | Very dry. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates. |
| di.. | DI4 | A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed). |
| di... | DI5 | An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use. |
| di.. | DI4 | Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed. |
| di... | DI5 | The official currency of several countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, North Macedonia, Serbia and Tunisia. |
| di.. | DI4 | dinosaur. |
| di.... | DI6 | A traditional Alpine women's dress having a tight bodice and full skirt |
| do...... † | DO8 | A nail with a wide head, traditionally used in the construction and ornamentation of wooden doors. |
| dr... | DR5 | A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole |
| dr... | DR5 | To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool). |
| dr... | DR5 | A robot, especially one made with some physical resemblance to a human (an android). |
| id.. | ID4 | A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power. |
| in.... | IN6 | Situated in, or designed to be used in, or carried on within, the interior of a building. |
| in.... | IN6 | simple past tense and past participle of inlay |
| in.... | IN6 | Within the land; relatively remote from the ocean or from open water; interior. |
| in.... | IN6 | An advance into enemy territory, an attempted invasion; an encroachment, an incursion. |
| ir.. | IR4 | A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel. |
| la.. | LA4 | simple past tense and past participle of lay |
| la.. | LA4 | past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”) |
| la.. | LA4 | A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground. |
| la... | LA5 | A Hawaiian-style roofed patio. |
| la..... | LA7 | A greasy yellow substance chemically akin to wax that is secreted from wooly animals, with a variety of uses from rust prevention, lubrication and waterproofing to cosmetics and skin ointments. |
| li.. | LI4 | One who frequently tells lies. |
| li.. | LI4 | A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe. |
| li.. | LI4 | The basic unit of currency in Turkey. |
| lo.. | LO4 | The part of the body (of humans and quadrupeds) at each side of the backbone, between the ribs and hips |
| 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 | The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals. |
| no.. | NO4 | Of or pertaining to film noir, or the atmosphere associated with that genre |
| no....... | NO9 | 10. |
| ol.. | OL4 | A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables. |
| on... | ON5 | A monocotyledonous plant (Allium cepa), allied to garlic, used as vegetable and spice. |
| or.... | OR6 | To prearrange unalterably. |
| or..... † | OR7 | Indicating position in a sequence. |
| ra.... | RA6 | Arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to a common centre. |
| 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.. | RA4 | A quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle. |
| ra.. | RA4 | A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing. |
| ra...... | RA8 | A permanent road consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on. |
| ra.. | RA4 | Condensed water falling from a cloud. |
| ra.. | RA4 | The wife of a rajah. |
| ri.. | RI4 | The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen. |
| ri.. | RI4 | A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet. |
| ri.. | RI4 | tree bark |
| ro.. | RO4 | To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of. |
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.
- aioli (AI5)
- andiron (AN7)
- android (AN7)
- anion (AN5)
- aria (AR4)
- arid (AR4)
- aril (AR4)
- dial (DI4)
- dildo (DI5)
- dill (DI4)
- dinar (DI5)
- dino (DI4)
- dirndl (DI6)
- doornail† (DO8)
- drain (DR5)
- drill (DR5)
- droid (DR5)
- idol (ID4)
- indoor (IN6)
- inlaid (IN6)
- inland (IN6)
- inroad (IN6)
- iron (IR4)
- laid (LA4)
- lain (LA4)
- lair (LA4)
- lanai (LA5)
- lanolin (LA7)
- liar (LI4)
- lion (LI4)
- lira (LI4)
- loin (LO4)
- nadir (NA5)
- naiad (NA5)
- nail (NA4)
- noir (NO4)
- nonillion (NO9)
- olio (OL4)
- onion (ON5)
- ordain (OR6)
- ordinal† (OR7)
- radial (RA6)
- radian (RA6)
- radii (RA5)
- radio (RA5)
- raid (RA4)
- rail (RA4)
- railroad (RA8)
- rain (RA4)
- rani (RA4)
- rial (RI4)
- rill (RI4)
- rind (RI4)
- roil (RO4)
Answer Definitions
- aioli (noun): A type of sauce, similar to mayonnaise, made from garlic, egg, lemon juice and olive oil.
- 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.
- aria (noun): A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.
- arid (adjective): Very dry.
- aril (noun): A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates.
- dial (noun): A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
- dildo (noun): An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use.
- dill (noun): Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed.
- dinar (noun): The official currency of several countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, North Macedonia, Serbia and Tunisia.
- dino (noun): dinosaur.
- dirndl (noun): A traditional Alpine women's dress having a tight bodice and full skirt
- doornail† (noun): A nail with a wide head, traditionally used in the construction and ornamentation of wooden doors.
- drain (noun): A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole
- drill (verb): To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool).
- droid (noun): A robot, especially one made with some physical resemblance to a human (an android).
- idol (noun): A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
- indoor (adjective): Situated in, or designed to be used in, or carried on within, the interior of a building.
- inlaid (verb): simple past tense and past participle of inlay
- inland (adjective): Within the land; relatively remote from the ocean or from open water; interior.
- inroad (noun): An advance into enemy territory, an attempted invasion; an encroachment, an incursion.
- iron (noun): A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel.
- laid (verb): simple past tense and past participle of lay
- lain (verb): past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”)
- lair (noun): A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground.
- lanai (noun): A Hawaiian-style roofed patio.
- lanolin (noun): A greasy yellow substance chemically akin to wax that is secreted from wooly animals, with a variety of uses from rust prevention, lubrication and waterproofing to cosmetics and skin ointments.
- liar (noun): One who frequently tells lies.
- lion (noun): A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.
- lira (noun): The basic unit of currency in Turkey.
- loin (noun): The part of the body (of humans and quadrupeds) at each side of the backbone, between the ribs and hips
- 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.
- nail (noun): The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.
- noir (adjective): Of or pertaining to film noir, or the atmosphere associated with that genre
- nonillion (numeral): 10.
- olio (noun): A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables.
- onion (noun): A monocotyledonous plant (Allium cepa), allied to garlic, used as vegetable and spice.
- ordain (verb): To prearrange unalterably.
- ordinal† (adjective): Indicating position in a sequence.
- radial (adjective): Arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to a common centre.
- 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.
- raid (noun): A quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle.
- rail (noun): A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
- railroad (noun): A permanent road consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on.
- rain (noun): Condensed water falling from a cloud.
- rani (noun): The wife of a rajah.
- rial (noun): The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen.
- rill (noun): A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet.
- rind (noun): tree bark
- roil (verb): To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of.