NYT Spelling Bee Answers for April 16, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | U |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, b, e, l, m, t |
| # of Pangrams | 3 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 54 words |
| Total Points | 251 points |
| Genius Level | 176 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 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| B | 5 | 3 | 5 | - | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| E | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| L | 5 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 6 |
| M | 5 | - | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | 12 |
| T | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | 12 |
| U | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 | Σ | 21 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 54 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×1 AL×2 AM×3 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×2 BE×2 BL×2 BU×9 |
| E | EM×1 |
| L | LU×6 |
| M | MA×2 MU×10 |
| T | TA×3 TU×9 |
| U | UL×1 UM×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABU×1 ALB×1 ALU×1 AMB×2 AMU×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAT×1 BAU×1 BEA×2 BLU×2 BUB×2 BUL×3 BUM×2 BUT×2 |
| E | EMU×1 |
| L | LUA×1 LUB×1 LUL×2 LUT×2 |
| M | MAL×1 MAU×1 MUL×3 MUM×1 MUT×5 MUU×1 |
| T | TAB×2 TAU×1 TUB×4 TUL×1 TUM×2 TUT×2 |
| U | ULU×1 UML×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) |
|---|---|---|
| am...... † | AM8 | To walk; to relocate oneself under the power of one's own legs. |
| am....... † | AM9 | A van used to transport patients in non-emergency situations. |
| mu..... † | MU7 | Changeable, dynamic, evolutive; inclined to change, evolve, mutate. |
| ab.. | AB4 | To touch by means of a mutual border, edge or end; to border on; to lie adjacent (to); to be contiguous (said of an area of land) |
| al... | AL5 | In Ancient Rome, a white tablet or register on which the praetor's edicts and other public notices were recorded. |
| 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.... | AM6 | A kind of protective charm or ornament, often bearing magical symbols, worn for protection against ill will, negative influences, or evil spirits. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A small, flat-bottomed type of boat. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A cheap showy ornament piece of jewellery; a gewgaw. |
| be.. | BE4 | A man with a reputation for fine dress and etiquette; a dandy or fop. |
| be... | BE5 | Something or someone that is physically attractive. |
| bl.. | BL4 | Having blue as its color. |
| bl...... | BL8 | Various flowering plants with blue, usually pendulous, flowers. In genus Hyacinthoides common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) Italian bluebell (Hyacinthoides italica) In other genera genus Muscari, the grape hyacinth) Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Scottish bluebell (harebell) (Campanula rotundifolia) Australian royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) Texas bluebell (Eustoma russellianum) desert bluebell or California bluebell (Phacelia campanularia) |
| bu... | BU5 | Brother; used as term of familiar address. |
| bu.... | BU6 | A spherically contained volume of air or other gas, especially one made from soapy liquid. |
| bu.. | BU4 | Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end. |
| bu.. | BU4 | An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. Specifically, one that is uncastrated. |
| bu.... | BU6 | A projectile, usually of metal, shot from a gun at high speed. |
| bu.... | BU6 | A confusion; a jumble. |
| bu....... | BU9 | Any of several species of large bee in the genus Bombus |
| bu.. | BU4 | The larger or thicker end of something; the blunt end, in distinction from the sharp or narrow end The buttocks . |
| bu... | BU5 | An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top. |
| em..... | EM7 | To attempt to equal or be the same as. |
| lu.. | LU4 | An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment. |
| lu.. | LU4 | Lubricant. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A period of rest or soothing. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A remarkable person, object or idea. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A fretted stringed instrument of European origin, similar to the guitar, having a bowl-shaped body or soundbox; any of a wide variety of chordophones with a pear-shaped body and a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard. |
| lu.... | LU6 | Of or pertaining to the corpus luteum |
| ma...... | MA8 | An ancient northern breed of dog of the husky type, particularly used as a sled dog. |
| ma.. | MA4 | A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat. |
| mu.. | MU4 | The generally sterile male or female hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. |
| mu.. | MU4 | (usually with over) To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate. |
| mu.... | MU6 | A fish of the family Mullidae (order Syngnathiformes), especially the genus Mullus (the red mullets or goatfish). |
| mu.... | MU6 | To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate. |
| mu.... | MU6 | To undergo mutation. |
| mu.. | MU4 | Not having the power of speech; dumb. |
| mu.. | MU4 | A mongrel dog (or sometimes cat); an animal of mixed breed or uncertain origin. |
| mu.... | MU6 | Having the same relationship, each to each other. |
| mu.... | MU6 | A long loose-fitting dress made of lightweight fabric printed with bright, stylized Hawaiian themes (such as flowers and palm branches). |
| ta..... | TA7 | A striking and vivid representation; a picture. |
| ta...... | TA8 | To arrange in tabular form; to arrange into a table. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight. |
| tu.. | TU4 | A large brass musical instrument, usually in the bass range, played through a vibration of the lips upon the mouthpiece and fingering of the keys. |
| tu... | TU5 | Of or pertaining to a tube, especially an anatomical one |
| tu.. | TU4 | Anything that is hollow and cylindrical in shape. |
| tu.... | TU6 | A small pipe or fistular body; a little tube. |
| tu... | TU5 | A kind of silk lace or light netting, used for clothing, veils, etc. |
| tu.... | TU6 | A fall, especially end over end. |
| tu.... | TU6 | Confused, agitated noise as made by a crowd. |
| tu... | TU5 | A student of a tutor. |
| tu.. | TU4 | A ballet skirt made of layered stiff but light netting. |
| ul..... | UL7 | to howl loudly or prolongedly in lamentation or joy |
| um.... | UM6 | An assimilatory process whereby a vowel is pronounced more like a following vocoid that is separated by one or more consonants. |
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.
- ambulate† (AM8)
- ambulette† (AM9)
- mutable† (MU7)
- abut (AB4)
- album (AL5)
- alum (AL4)
- amulet (AM6)
- bateau (BA6)
- bauble (BA6)
- beau (BE4)
- beaut (BE5)
- blue (BL4)
- bluebell (BL8)
- bubba (BU5)
- bubble (BU6)
- bulb (BU4)
- bull (BU4)
- bullet (BU6)
- bumble (BU6)
- bumblebee (BU9)
- butt (BU4)
- butte (BU5)
- emulate (EM7)
- luau (LU4)
- lube (LU4)
- lull (LU4)
- lulu (LU4)
- lute (LU4)
- luteal (LU6)
- malamute (MA8)
- maul (MA4)
- mule (MU4)
- mull (MU4)
- mullet (MU6)
- mumble (MU6)
- mutate (MU6)
- mute (MU4)
- mutt (MU4)
- mutual (MU6)
- muumuu (MU6)
- tableau (TA7)
- tabulate (TA8)
- taut (TA4)
- tuba (TU4)
- tubal (TU5)
- tube (TU4)
- tubule (TU6)
- tulle (TU5)
- tumble (TU6)
- tumult (TU6)
- tutee (TU5)
- tutu (TU4)
- ululate (UL7)
- umlaut (UM6)
Answer Definitions
- ambulate† (verb): To walk; to relocate oneself under the power of one's own legs.
- ambulette† (noun): A van used to transport patients in non-emergency situations.
- mutable† (adjective): Changeable, dynamic, evolutive; inclined to change, evolve, mutate.
- abut (verb): To touch by means of a mutual border, edge or end; to border on; to lie adjacent (to); to be contiguous (said of an area of land)
- album (noun): In Ancient Rome, a white tablet or register on which the praetor's edicts and other public notices were recorded.
- 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).
- amulet (noun): A kind of protective charm or ornament, often bearing magical symbols, worn for protection against ill will, negative influences, or evil spirits.
- bateau (noun): A small, flat-bottomed type of boat.
- bauble (noun): A cheap showy ornament piece of jewellery; a gewgaw.
- beau (noun): A man with a reputation for fine dress and etiquette; a dandy or fop.
- beaut (noun): Something or someone that is physically attractive.
- blue (adjective): Having blue as its color.
- bluebell (noun): Various flowering plants with blue, usually pendulous, flowers. In genus Hyacinthoides common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) Italian bluebell (Hyacinthoides italica) In other genera genus Muscari, the grape hyacinth) Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Scottish bluebell (harebell) (Campanula rotundifolia) Australian royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) Texas bluebell (Eustoma russellianum) desert bluebell or California bluebell (Phacelia campanularia)
- bubba (noun): Brother; used as term of familiar address.
- bubble (noun): A spherically contained volume of air or other gas, especially one made from soapy liquid.
- bulb (noun): Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.
- bull (noun): An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. Specifically, one that is uncastrated.
- bullet (noun): A projectile, usually of metal, shot from a gun at high speed.
- bumble (noun): A confusion; a jumble.
- bumblebee (noun): Any of several species of large bee in the genus Bombus
- butt (noun): The larger or thicker end of something; the blunt end, in distinction from the sharp or narrow end The buttocks .
- butte (noun): An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top.
- emulate (verb): To attempt to equal or be the same as.
- luau (noun): An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.
- lube (noun): Lubricant.
- lull (noun): A period of rest or soothing.
- lulu (noun): A remarkable person, object or idea.
- lute (noun): A fretted stringed instrument of European origin, similar to the guitar, having a bowl-shaped body or soundbox; any of a wide variety of chordophones with a pear-shaped body and a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard.
- luteal (adjective): Of or pertaining to the corpus luteum
- malamute (noun): An ancient northern breed of dog of the husky type, particularly used as a sled dog.
- maul (noun): A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat.
- mule (noun): The generally sterile male or female hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.
- mull (verb): (usually with over) To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate.
- mullet (noun): A fish of the family Mullidae (order Syngnathiformes), especially the genus Mullus (the red mullets or goatfish).
- mumble (verb): To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.
- mutate (verb): To undergo mutation.
- mute (adjective): Not having the power of speech; dumb.
- mutt (noun): A mongrel dog (or sometimes cat); an animal of mixed breed or uncertain origin.
- mutual (adjective): Having the same relationship, each to each other.
- muumuu (noun): A long loose-fitting dress made of lightweight fabric printed with bright, stylized Hawaiian themes (such as flowers and palm branches).
- tableau (noun): A striking and vivid representation; a picture.
- tabulate (verb): To arrange in tabular form; to arrange into a table.
- taut (adjective): Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
- tuba (noun): A large brass musical instrument, usually in the bass range, played through a vibration of the lips upon the mouthpiece and fingering of the keys.
- tubal (adjective): Of or pertaining to a tube, especially an anatomical one
- tube (noun): Anything that is hollow and cylindrical in shape.
- tubule (noun): A small pipe or fistular body; a little tube.
- tulle (noun): A kind of silk lace or light netting, used for clothing, veils, etc.
- tumble (noun): A fall, especially end over end.
- tumult (noun): Confused, agitated noise as made by a crowd.
- tutee (noun): A student of a tutor.
- tutu (noun): A ballet skirt made of layered stiff but light netting.
- ululate (verb): to howl loudly or prolongedly in lamentation or joy
- umlaut (noun): An assimilatory process whereby a vowel is pronounced more like a following vocoid that is separated by one or more consonants.