NYT Spelling Bee Answers for January 17, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | U |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, d, l, m, o, r |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 32 words |
| Total Points | 127 points |
| Genius Level | 89 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 | Σ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | 8 |
| D | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| L | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| M | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | 8 |
| O | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R | - | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
| U | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 14 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 32 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×2 AM×1 AR×1 AU×4 |
|---|---|
| D | DO×2 DR×2 DU×5 |
| L | LA×1 LO×1 LU×3 |
| M | MA×2 MO×1 MU×5 |
| O | |
| R | RU×2 |
| U |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALO×1 ALU×1 AMO×1 ARU×1 AUR×4 |
|---|---|
| D | DOU×2 DRU×2 DUA×1 DUL×2 DUM×1 DUR×1 |
| L | LAU×1 LOU×1 LUA×1 LUL×2 |
| M | MAR×1 MAU×1 MOD×1 MUD×1 MUL×1 MUR×2 MUU×1 |
| O | |
| R | RUM×1 RUR×1 |
| U |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| mo..... † | MO7 | Consisting of separate modules; especially where each module performs or fulfills some specified function and could be replaced by a similar module for the same function, independently of the other modules. |
| al... | AL5 | With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. |
| al.. | AL4 | An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O). |
| am... | AM5 | Love, affection. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A flower or plant in the genus Arum |
| au.. | AU4 | Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something. |
| au... | AU5 | Of or pertaining to the ear. |
| au.... | AU6 | An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively. |
| au..... | AU7 | Pertaining to the dawn; dawning, eastern, like a new beginning. |
| do... | DO5 | A trained support person, who usually has doula training, who provides emotional, physical and practical assistance to a pregnant woman or couple before, during or after childbirth. |
| do.. | DO4 | Stern, harsh and forbidding. |
| dr.. | DR4 | A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone. |
| dr...... | DR8 | Alternative spelling of drum roll |
| du.. | DU4 | Characterized by having two (usually equivalent) components. |
| du.. | DU4 | Lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp. |
| du..... | DU7 | A stupid person; a fool. |
| du.... | DU6 | A soft-nosed bullet that expands on impact to cause a gaping wound. |
| du... | DU5 | Ellipsis of durum wheat. |
| la.. | LA4 | Praise or glorification. |
| lo.. | LO4 | Of great intensity. |
| lu.. | LU4 | An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A period of rest or soothing. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A remarkable person, object or idea. |
| ma.... | MA6 | To move about in roving fashion looking for plunder. |
| ma.. | MA4 | A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat. |
| mu..... | MU7 | A room used as a barrier between outdoors and indoors. |
| mu.. | MU4 | (usually with over) To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate. |
| mu... | MU5 | A large painting, usually drawn on a wall. |
| mu.... | MU6 | Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water. |
| mu.... | MU6 | A long loose-fitting dress made of lightweight fabric printed with bright, stylized Hawaiian themes (such as flowers and palm branches). |
| ru... | RU5 | A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth. |
| ru... | RU5 | Relating to the countryside or to agriculture. |
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.
- modular† (MO7)
- aloud (AL5)
- alum (AL4)
- amour (AM5)
- arum (AR4)
- aura (AU4)
- aural (AU5)
- aurora (AU6)
- auroral (AU7)
- doula (DO5)
- dour (DO4)
- drum (DR4)
- drumroll (DR8)
- dual (DU4)
- dull (DU4)
- dullard (DU7)
- dumdum (DU6)
- durum (DU5)
- laud (LA4)
- loud (LO4)
- luau (LU4)
- lull (LU4)
- lulu (LU4)
- maraud (MA6)
- maul (MA4)
- mudroom (MU7)
- mull (MU4)
- mural (MU5)
- murmur (MU6)
- muumuu (MU6)
- rumor (RU5)
- rural (RU5)
Answer Definitions
- modular† (adjective): Consisting of separate modules; especially where each module performs or fulfills some specified function and could be replaced by a similar module for the same function, independently of the other modules.
- aloud (adverb): With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly.
- alum (noun): An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O).
- amour (noun): Love, affection.
- arum (noun): A flower or plant in the genus Arum
- aura (noun): Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
- aural (adjective): Of or pertaining to the ear.
- aurora (noun): An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively.
- auroral (adjective): Pertaining to the dawn; dawning, eastern, like a new beginning.
- doula (noun): A trained support person, who usually has doula training, who provides emotional, physical and practical assistance to a pregnant woman or couple before, during or after childbirth.
- dour (adjective): Stern, harsh and forbidding.
- drum (noun): A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
- drumroll (noun): Alternative spelling of drum roll
- dual (adjective): Characterized by having two (usually equivalent) components.
- dull (adjective): Lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp.
- dullard (noun): A stupid person; a fool.
- dumdum (noun): A soft-nosed bullet that expands on impact to cause a gaping wound.
- durum (noun): Ellipsis of durum wheat.
- laud (noun): Praise or glorification.
- loud (adjective): Of great intensity.
- luau (noun): An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.
- lull (noun): A period of rest or soothing.
- lulu (noun): A remarkable person, object or idea.
- maraud (verb): To move about in roving fashion looking for plunder.
- maul (noun): A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat.
- mudroom (noun): A room used as a barrier between outdoors and indoors.
- mull (verb): (usually with over) To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate.
- mural (noun): A large painting, usually drawn on a wall.
- murmur (noun): Any low, indistinct sound, like that of running water.
- muumuu (noun): A long loose-fitting dress made of lightweight fabric printed with bright, stylized Hawaiian themes (such as flowers and palm branches).
- rumor (noun): A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
- rural (adjective): Relating to the countryside or to agriculture.