NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 18, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | b, g, i, n, r, u |
| # of Pangrams | 4 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 49 words |
| Total Points | 272 points |
| Genius Level | 190 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
| G | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| I | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| L | 3 | - | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
| N | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| R | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | 3 |
| U | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 16 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 49 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| B | BI×2 BL×6 BU×11 |
|---|---|
| G | GI×4 GL×4 GR×2 GU×3 |
| I | |
| L | LI×2 LU×9 |
| N | NI×2 NU×1 |
| R | RI×2 RU×1 |
| U |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| B | BIL×2 BLI×3 BLU×3 BUB×1 BUG×1 BUL×5 BUN×1 BUR×3 |
|---|---|
| G | GIG×1 GIL×2 GIR×1 GLI×1 GLU×3 GRI×2 GUL×2 GUR×1 |
| I | |
| L | LIN×2 LUB×1 LUG×2 LUL×3 LUN×2 LUR×1 |
| N | NIB×1 NIG×1 NUL×1 |
| R | RIL×2 RUL×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) |
|---|---|---|
| bl...... † | BL8 | present participle of blur |
| bu...... † | BU8 | Alternative form of bull ring (“area where a bullfight takes place”) |
| bu...... † | BU8 | A burble, the sounds of a burble. |
| bu...... † | BU8 | present participle of burgle |
| bi.. | BI4 | Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff. |
| bi..... | BI7 | present participle of bill |
| bl.. | BL4 | To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up. |
| bl... | BL5 | Alternative form of bling bling |
| bl... | BL5 | A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To make indistinct or hazy, to obscure or dim. |
| bl... | BL5 | A short description of a book, film, or other work, written and used for promotional purposes. |
| bu...... | BU8 | present participle of bubble |
| bu..... | BU7 | present participle of bugle |
| 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..... | BU7 | present participle of bulge |
| bu.... | BU6 | wheat grains that have been steamed, dried and crushed; a staple of Middle Eastern cooking. |
| bu.. | BU4 | An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. Specifically, one that is uncastrated. |
| bu...... | BU8 | Incompetent or inept. |
| bu.. | BU4 | A tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. |
| gi...... | GI8 | present participle of giggle |
| gi.. | GI4 | a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals |
| gi..... | GI7 | present participle of gill |
| gi.. | GI4 | A female child, adolescent, or a young woman. |
| gl.. | GL4 | Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought or understanding; superficial; shallow. |
| gl.. | GL4 | The sound made when a significant amount of liquid is poured suddenly out of something, such as a jug or bottle. |
| gl...... | GL8 | present participle of glug |
| gl.... | GL6 | present participle of glue |
| gr... | GR5 | A grating; a grid of wire or a sheet of material with a pattern of holes or slots, usually used to protect something while allowing the passage of air and liquids. Typical uses: to allow air through a fan while preventing fingers or objects from passing; to allow people to talk to somebody, while preventing attack. |
| gr...... | GR8 | present participle of grill |
| gu.. | GU4 | A seabird of the genus Larus or of the family Laridae. |
| gu..... | GU7 | present participle of gull |
| gu...... | GU8 | A gurgling sound. |
| li...... | LI8 | Alternative spelling of linguine |
| li.... | LI6 | A covering for the inside surface of something. |
| lu.... | LU6 | present participle of lube |
| lu..... | LU7 | present participle of lug |
| lu.... | LU6 | present participle of luge |
| lu.. | LU4 | A period of rest or soothing. |
| lu..... | LU7 | present participle of lull |
| lu.. | LU4 | A remarkable person, object or idea. |
| lu.. | LU4 | A biological organ of vertebrates that controls breathing and oxygenates the blood. |
| lu..... | LU7 | present participle of lunge |
| lu.... | LU6 | present participle of lure |
| ni...... | NI8 | The act or sound of one who nibbles. |
| ni...... | NI8 | present participle of niggle |
| nu.. | NU4 | A non-existent or empty value or set of values. |
| ri.... | RI6 | present participle of rile |
| ri.. | RI4 | A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet. |
| ru.... | RU6 | That rules; predominant; chief; reigning; controlling. |
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.
- blurring† (BL8)
- bullring† (BU8)
- burbling† (BU8)
- burgling† (BU8)
- bill (BI4)
- billing (BI7)
- blin (BL4)
- bling (BL5)
- blini (BL5)
- blur (BL4)
- blurb (BL5)
- bubbling (BU8)
- bugling (BU7)
- bulb (BU4)
- bulging (BU7)
- bulgur (BU6)
- bull (BU4)
- bungling (BU8)
- burl (BU4)
- giggling (GI8)
- gill (GI4)
- gilling (GI7)
- girl (GI4)
- glib (GL4)
- glug (GL4)
- glugging (GL8)
- gluing (GL6)
- grill (GR5)
- grilling (GR8)
- gull (GU4)
- gulling (GU7)
- gurgling (GU8)
- linguini (LI8)
- lining (LI6)
- lubing (LU6)
- lugging (LU7)
- luging (LU6)
- lull (LU4)
- lulling (LU7)
- lulu (LU4)
- lung (LU4)
- lunging (LU7)
- luring (LU6)
- nibbling (NI8)
- niggling (NI8)
- null (NU4)
- riling (RI6)
- rill (RI4)
- ruling (RU6)
Answer Definitions
- blurring† (verb): present participle of blur
- bullring† (noun): Alternative form of bull ring (“area where a bullfight takes place”)
- burbling† (noun): A burble, the sounds of a burble.
- burgling† (verb): present participle of burgle
- bill (noun): Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
- billing (verb): present participle of bill
- blin (verb): To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
- bling (noun): Alternative form of bling bling
- blini (noun): A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
- blur (verb): To make indistinct or hazy, to obscure or dim.
- blurb (noun): A short description of a book, film, or other work, written and used for promotional purposes.
- bubbling (verb): present participle of bubble
- bugling (verb): present participle of bugle
- bulb (noun): Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.
- bulging (verb): present participle of bulge
- bulgur (noun): wheat grains that have been steamed, dried and crushed; a staple of Middle Eastern cooking.
- bull (noun): An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. Specifically, one that is uncastrated.
- bungling (adjective): Incompetent or inept.
- burl (noun): A tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner.
- giggling (verb): present participle of giggle
- gill (noun): a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals
- gilling (verb): present participle of gill
- girl (noun): A female child, adolescent, or a young woman.
- glib (adjective): Having a ready flow of words but lacking thought or understanding; superficial; shallow.
- glug (noun): The sound made when a significant amount of liquid is poured suddenly out of something, such as a jug or bottle.
- glugging (verb): present participle of glug
- gluing (verb): present participle of glue
- grill (noun): A grating; a grid of wire or a sheet of material with a pattern of holes or slots, usually used to protect something while allowing the passage of air and liquids. Typical uses: to allow air through a fan while preventing fingers or objects from passing; to allow people to talk to somebody, while preventing attack.
- grilling (verb): present participle of grill
- gull (noun): A seabird of the genus Larus or of the family Laridae.
- gulling (verb): present participle of gull
- gurgling (noun): A gurgling sound.
- linguini (noun): Alternative spelling of linguine
- lining (noun): A covering for the inside surface of something.
- lubing (verb): present participle of lube
- lugging (verb): present participle of lug
- luging (verb): present participle of luge
- lull (noun): A period of rest or soothing.
- lulling (verb): present participle of lull
- lulu (noun): A remarkable person, object or idea.
- lung (noun): A biological organ of vertebrates that controls breathing and oxygenates the blood.
- lunging (verb): present participle of lunge
- luring (verb): present participle of lure
- nibbling (noun): The act or sound of one who nibbles.
- niggling (verb): present participle of niggle
- null (noun): A non-existent or empty value or set of values.
- riling (verb): present participle of rile
- rill (noun): A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet.
- ruling (adjective): That rules; predominant; chief; reigning; controlling.