NYT Spelling Bee Answers for July 21, 2022
Game Summary
| Center Letter | T |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | o, p, m, a, i, l |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 56 words |
| Total Points | 210 points |
| Genius Level | 147 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 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 7 |
| I | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| L | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 |
| M | 5 | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| O | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| P | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 11 |
| T | 11 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | Σ | 27 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 56 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×3 AT×4 |
|---|---|
| I | IO×1 |
| L | LA×1 LI×2 LO×2 |
| M | MA×2 MI×2 MO×4 |
| O | OM×1 OP×2 |
| P | PA×3 PI×4 PL×3 PO×1 |
| T | TA×9 TI×4 TO×8 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALI×1 ALL×1 ALT×1 ATI×1 ATO×3 |
|---|---|
| I | IOT×1 |
| L | LAP×1 LIL×1 LIM×1 LOO×1 LOT×1 |
| M | MAI×1 MAL×1 MIL×1 MIT×1 MOA×1 MOL×1 MOO×1 MOT×1 |
| O | OMI×1 OPT×2 |
| P | PAL×2 PAT×1 PIL×1 PIP×1 PIT×2 PLA×2 PLO×1 POT×1 |
| T | TAI×2 TAL×3 TAM×1 TAP×1 TAT×2 TIL×3 TIP×1 TOI×1 TOL×1 TOM×3 TOO×2 TOT×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) |
|---|---|---|
| al.. | AL4 | simple past tense and past participle of alight |
| al... | AL5 | To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot. |
| al.. | AL4 | A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody. |
| at... | AT5 | At an angle from the vertical or horizontal. |
| at... | AT5 | a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls |
| at.. | AT4 | The smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. |
| at.. | AT4 | On the top of. |
| io.. | IO4 | The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. |
| la.... | LA6 | A laptop computer. |
| li.. | LI4 | To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music. |
| li... | LI5 | A restriction; a bound beyond which one may not go. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks. |
| lo... | LO5 | a game of chance similar to bingo |
| ma..... | MA7 | A one-piece swimsuit (for women) |
| ma.. | MA4 | Malted grain (sprouted grain) (usually barley), used in brewing and otherwise. |
| mi..... | MI7 | An army of trained civilians, which may be an official reserve army, called upon in time of need, the entire able-bodied population of a state which may also be called upon, or a private force not under government control. |
| mi.. | MI4 | A mitten |
| mo.. | MO4 | A deep, wide defensive ditch, normally filled with water, surrounding a fortified habitation. |
| mo.. | MO4 | US standard spelling of moult. |
| mo.. | MO4 | Subject to discussion (originally at a moot); arguable, debatable, unsolved or impossible to solve. |
| mo... | MO5 | A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement. |
| om.. | OM4 | To leave out or exclude. |
| op.... | OP6 | plural of optimum |
| op..... † | OP7 | The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction. |
| pa..... | PA7 | Pertaining to the palate. |
| pa...... | PA8 | Of or relating to a palace. |
| pa... | PA5 | A paved outside area, adjoining a house, used for dining or recreation. |
| pi... | PI5 | A person who steers a ship, a helmsman. |
| pi... | PI5 | Any of various small passerine birds, mainly from the genus Anthus, that are often drab, ground feeding insectivores of open country. |
| pi.. | PI4 | A flat bread pouch used for making sandwiches such as gyros or falafels. |
| pi..... | PI7 | Alternative spelling of pit-a-pat |
| pl... | PL5 | A flat fold; a doubling, as of cloth; a pleat. |
| pl.. | PL4 | A plot of land; a lot. |
| pl.. | PL4 | The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means. |
| po.... | PO6 | The tuber of a plant, Solanum tuberosum, eaten as a starchy vegetable, particularly in the Americas and Europe; this plant. |
| ta.. | TA4 | The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus. |
| ta...... | TA8 | A taillight. |
| ta.. | TA4 | plural of talus |
| ta.. | TA4 | Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A traditional Jewish prayer shawl with tassels which covers the chest and upper part of the back. |
| ta.. | TA4 | To plug up with clay, earth, dry sand, sod, or other material, as a hole bored in a rock. |
| ta.. | TA4 | A kind of cloth prepared by the Polynesians from the inner bark of the paper mulberry. |
| ta.... | TA6 | Straw matting, in a standard size, used as a floor covering in Japanese houses. |
| ta.... | TA6 | An image made in the skin with ink and a needle. |
| ti..... | TI7 | Any of various edible fish, formerly species of the genus Tilapia, but now placed in other cichlid genera (such as Oreochromis), native to Africa and the Middle East but cultivated worldwide. |
| ti.. | TI4 | Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time). |
| ti.. | TI4 | To slope or incline (something); to slant. |
| ti.... | TI6 | The very topmost point. |
| to.. | TO4 | Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature. |
| to.. | TO4 | Loss or damage incurred through a disaster. |
| to....... | TO9 | A plant of the nightshade family originating in Mexico, Physalis philadelphica, cultivated for its tomato-like green to green-purple fruit surrounded by a thin papery skin. |
| to.... | TO6 | A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit. |
| to.... | TO6 | Alternative spelling of tom-tit |
| to.. | TO4 | A mechanical device intended to make a task easier. |
| to.. | TO4 | The noise of a horn or whistle. |
| to... | TO5 | An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts. |
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.
- alit (AL4)
- allot (AL5)
- alto (AL4)
- atilt (AT5)
- atoll (AT5)
- atom (AT4)
- atop (AT4)
- iota (IO4)
- laptop (LA6)
- lilt (LI4)
- limit (LI5)
- loot (LO4)
- lotto (LO5)
- maillot (MA7)
- malt (MA4)
- militia (MI7)
- mitt (MI4)
- moat (MO4)
- molt (MO4)
- moot (MO4)
- motto (MO5)
- omit (OM4)
- optima (OP6)
- optimal† (OP7)
- palatal (PA7)
- palatial (PA8)
- patio (PA5)
- pilot (PI5)
- pipit (PI5)
- pita (PI4)
- pitapat (PI7)
- plait (PL5)
- plat (PL4)
- plot (PL4)
- potato (PO6)
- tail (TA4)
- taillamp (TA8)
- tali (TA4)
- tall (TA4)
- tallit (TA6)
- tamp (TA4)
- tapa (TA4)
- tatami (TA6)
- tattoo (TA6)
- tilapia (TI7)
- till (TI4)
- tilt (TI4)
- tiptop (TI6)
- toil (TO4)
- toll (TO4)
- tomatillo (TO9)
- tomato (TO6)
- tomtit (TO6)
- tool (TO4)
- toot (TO4)
- total (TO5)
Answer Definitions
- alit (verb): simple past tense and past participle of alight
- allot (verb): To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot.
- alto (noun): A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
- atilt (adjective): At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.
- atoll (noun): a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls
- atom (noun): The smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons.
- atop (preposition): On the top of.
- iota (noun): The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.
- laptop (noun): A laptop computer.
- lilt (verb): To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
- limit (noun): A restriction; a bound beyond which one may not go.
- loot (noun): A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
- lotto (noun): a game of chance similar to bingo
- maillot (noun): A one-piece swimsuit (for women)
- malt (noun): Malted grain (sprouted grain) (usually barley), used in brewing and otherwise.
- militia (noun): An army of trained civilians, which may be an official reserve army, called upon in time of need, the entire able-bodied population of a state which may also be called upon, or a private force not under government control.
- mitt (noun): A mitten
- moat (noun): A deep, wide defensive ditch, normally filled with water, surrounding a fortified habitation.
- molt (verb): US standard spelling of moult.
- moot (adjective): Subject to discussion (originally at a moot); arguable, debatable, unsolved or impossible to solve.
- motto (noun): A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement.
- omit (verb): To leave out or exclude.
- optima (noun): plural of optimum
- optimal† (adjective): The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction.
- palatal (adjective): Pertaining to the palate.
- palatial (adjective): Of or relating to a palace.
- patio (noun): A paved outside area, adjoining a house, used for dining or recreation.
- pilot (noun): A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.
- pipit (noun): Any of various small passerine birds, mainly from the genus Anthus, that are often drab, ground feeding insectivores of open country.
- pita (noun): A flat bread pouch used for making sandwiches such as gyros or falafels.
- pitapat (verb): Alternative spelling of pit-a-pat
- plait (noun): A flat fold; a doubling, as of cloth; a pleat.
- plat (noun): A plot of land; a lot.
- plot (noun): The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
- potato (noun): The tuber of a plant, Solanum tuberosum, eaten as a starchy vegetable, particularly in the Americas and Europe; this plant.
- tail (noun): The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus.
- taillamp (noun): A taillight.
- tali (noun): plural of talus
- tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
- tallit (noun): A traditional Jewish prayer shawl with tassels which covers the chest and upper part of the back.
- tamp (verb): To plug up with clay, earth, dry sand, sod, or other material, as a hole bored in a rock.
- tapa (noun): A kind of cloth prepared by the Polynesians from the inner bark of the paper mulberry.
- tatami (noun): Straw matting, in a standard size, used as a floor covering in Japanese houses.
- tattoo (noun): An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
- tilapia (noun): Any of various edible fish, formerly species of the genus Tilapia, but now placed in other cichlid genera (such as Oreochromis), native to Africa and the Middle East but cultivated worldwide.
- till (preposition): Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
- tilt (verb): To slope or incline (something); to slant.
- tiptop (noun): The very topmost point.
- toil (noun): Labour, work, especially of a grueling nature.
- toll (noun): Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
- tomatillo (noun): A plant of the nightshade family originating in Mexico, Physalis philadelphica, cultivated for its tomato-like green to green-purple fruit surrounded by a thin papery skin.
- tomato (noun): A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit.
- tomtit (noun): Alternative spelling of tom-tit
- tool (noun): A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
- toot (noun): The noise of a horn or whistle.
- total (noun): An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.