NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 10, 2021
Game Summary
| Center Letter | B |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, g, l, n, o, t |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 46 words |
| Total Points | 180 points |
| Genius Level | 126 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| B | 18 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 34 |
| G | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| L | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| N | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 |
| O | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| T | - | 2 | - | - | 1 | 3 | Σ | 21 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 46 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×10 BL×8 BO×16 |
| G | GL×2 |
| L | LO×2 |
| N | NA×2 NO×1 |
| O | OB×1 |
| T | TA×2 TO×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABB×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAB×2 BAL×3 BAN×3 BAO×1 BAT×1 BLA×3 BLO×5 BOA×1 BOB×1 BOL×5 BON×4 BOO×5 |
| G | GLO×2 |
| L | LOB×1 LON×1 |
| N | NAB×1 NAN×1 NOO×1 |
| O | OBL×1 |
| T | TAB×2 TOB×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ab... | AB5 | The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass. |
| ba..... | BA7 | An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible. |
| ba.... | BA6 | Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote. |
| ba... | BA5 | Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin. In particular, the sweet, yellow fruit of the Cavendish banana cultivar, which may be eaten raw, as distinct from e.g. a plantain for cooking. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A sudden percussive noise. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits. |
| ba... | BA5 | A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat. |
| bl..... | BL7 | Obvious, on show; unashamed; loudly obtrusive or offensive. |
| bl... | BL5 | To cause to become distended. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A website that allows users to reflect, share opinions, and discuss various topics in the form of an online journal, sometimes letting readers comment on their posts. Most blogs are written in a slightly informal tone (personal journals, news, businesses, etc.) |
| bl.. | BL4 | A blemish, spot or stain made by a coloured substance. |
| bl.... | BL6 | (Very) drunk or intoxicated. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Synonym of tapioca pearl. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord. |
| bo.. | BO4 | The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A long, heavy, single-edged machete. |
| bo..... | BO7 | A seasoned Italian sausage made from beef, pork or veal. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw. |
| bo.... | BO6 | A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy. |
| bo.. | BO4 | The clang of a large bell. |
| bo... | BO5 | A striped bovine mammal found in Africa, Tragelaphus eurycerus. |
| bo.... | BO6 | The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river. |
| bo.. | BO4 | An idiot; a fool. |
| bo.... | BO6 | Alternative spelling of boo-boo |
| bo...... | BO8 | A genre of music that blends rhythm and blues and soul music with Cuban-style rhythms, originating in the United States in the 1960s. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A prayer; petition. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football. |
| gl.. | GL4 | A round, shapeless or amorphous lump, as of a semisolid substance. |
| gl.... | GL6 | Concerning all parts of the world. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A wolf. |
| lo...... † | LO8 | Among the boats carried by a ship the largest, thus the most capable of boats carried on a ship. |
| na... | NA5 | An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire. |
| na..... | NA7 | A very small autonomous robot, typically the size of a biological cell, designed to work alone or in very large numbers to achieve some task. |
| no.. | NO4 | A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things. |
| ob.... | OB6 | Having a length and width that are different; not square or circular. |
| ta... | TA5 | A pair of tuned hand drums, used in various musical genres of the Indian subcontinent, that are similar to bongos. |
| ta... | TA5 | An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion. |
| to...... | TO8 | A long sled without runners, with the front end curled upwards, which may be pulled across snow by a cord or used to coast down hills. |
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.
- abbot (AB5)
- baba (BA4)
- baboon (BA6)
- ball (BA4)
- balloon (BA7)
- ballot (BA6)
- banal (BA5)
- banana (BA6)
- bang (BA4)
- baobab (BA6)
- baton (BA5)
- blab (BL4)
- blat (BL4)
- blatant (BL7)
- bloat (BL5)
- blob (BL4)
- blog (BL4)
- blot (BL4)
- blotto (BL6)
- boat (BO4)
- boba (BO4)
- bola (BO4)
- boll (BO4)
- bolo (BO4)
- bologna (BO7)
- bolt (BO4)
- bonbon (BO6)
- bong (BO4)
- bongo (BO5)
- bonobo (BO6)
- boob (BO4)
- booboo (BO6)
- boogaloo (BO8)
- boon (BO4)
- boot (BO4)
- glob (GL4)
- global (GL6)
- lobo (LO4)
- longboat† (LO8)
- nabob (NA5)
- nanobot (NA7)
- noob (NO4)
- oblong (OB6)
- tabla (TA5)
- taboo (TA5)
- toboggan (TO8)
Answer Definitions
- abbot (noun): The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
- baba (noun): A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
- baboon (noun): An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks.
- ball (noun): A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
- balloon (noun): An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible.
- ballot (noun): Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
- banal (adjective): Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
- banana (noun): An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin. In particular, the sweet, yellow fruit of the Cavendish banana cultivar, which may be eaten raw, as distinct from e.g. a plantain for cooking.
- bang (noun): A sudden percussive noise.
- baobab (noun): A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits.
- baton (noun): A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
- blab (verb): To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.
- blat (verb): To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat.
- blatant (adjective): Obvious, on show; unashamed; loudly obtrusive or offensive.
- bloat (verb): To cause to become distended.
- blob (noun): A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape.
- blog (noun): A website that allows users to reflect, share opinions, and discuss various topics in the form of an online journal, sometimes letting readers comment on their posts. Most blogs are written in a slightly informal tone (personal journals, news, businesses, etc.)
- blot (noun): A blemish, spot or stain made by a coloured substance.
- blotto (adjective): (Very) drunk or intoxicated.
- boat (noun): A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.
- boba (noun): Synonym of tapioca pearl.
- bola (noun): A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord.
- boll (noun): The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant.
- bolo (noun): A long, heavy, single-edged machete.
- bologna (noun): A seasoned Italian sausage made from beef, pork or veal.
- bolt (noun): A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
- bonbon (noun): A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy.
- bong (noun): The clang of a large bell.
- bongo (noun): A striped bovine mammal found in Africa, Tragelaphus eurycerus.
- bonobo (noun): The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river.
- boob (noun): An idiot; a fool.
- booboo (noun): Alternative spelling of boo-boo
- boogaloo (noun): A genre of music that blends rhythm and blues and soul music with Cuban-style rhythms, originating in the United States in the 1960s.
- boon (noun): A prayer; petition.
- boot (noun): A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football.
- glob (noun): A round, shapeless or amorphous lump, as of a semisolid substance.
- global (adjective): Concerning all parts of the world.
- lobo (noun): A wolf.
- longboat† (noun): Among the boats carried by a ship the largest, thus the most capable of boats carried on a ship.
- nabob (noun): An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
- nanobot (noun): A very small autonomous robot, typically the size of a biological cell, designed to work alone or in very large numbers to achieve some task.
- noob (noun): A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things.
- oblong (adjective): Having a length and width that are different; not square or circular.
- tabla (noun): A pair of tuned hand drums, used in various musical genres of the Indian subcontinent, that are similar to bongos.
- taboo (noun): An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
- toboggan (noun): A long sled without runners, with the front end curled upwards, which may be pulled across snow by a cord or used to coast down hills.