NYT Spelling Bee Answers for June 17, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | B |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | d, e, n, o, t, u |
| # of Pangrams | 3 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 57 words |
| Total Points | 284 points |
| Genius Level | 199 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</th><th>10 | Σ | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 13 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 35 |
| D | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | 8 |
| E | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| N | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| O | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| T | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| U | - | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Σ | 18 | 10 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 57 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| B | BE×6 BO×21 BU×8 |
|---|---|
| D | DE×5 DO×2 DU×1 |
| E | EB×2 |
| N | NO×1 |
| O | OB×1 OU×1 |
| T | TU×2 |
| U | UN×7 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| B | BED×1 BEE×2 BEN×3 BOB×1 BOD×2 BON×7 BOO×7 BOT×1 BOU×3 BUD×1 BUN×2 BUT×5 |
|---|---|
| D | DEB×5 DOU×2 DUB×1 |
| E | EBB×1 EBO×1 |
| N | NOO×1 |
| O | OBO×1 OUT×1 |
| T | TUB×2 |
| U | UNB×6 UND×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) |
|---|---|---|
| bu...... † | BU8 | simple past tense and past participle of button |
| un........ † | UN10 | simple past tense and past participle of unbutton |
| un....... † | UN9 | Without doubt; without question; certain. |
| be.... | BE6 | simple past tense and past participle of bed |
| be.. | BE4 | past participle of be. |
| be.. | BE4 | Beta vulgaris, a plant with a swollen root which is eaten or used to make sugar. |
| be.. | BE4 | To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means. |
| be.. | BE4 | simple past tense and past participle of bend |
| be... | BE5 | A Japanese takeaway lunch served in a box, often with the food arranged into an elaborate design. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of bob |
| bo.. | BO4 | To indicate by signs, as future events; to be an omen of; to portend or foretell. |
| bo... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of bode |
| bo.... | BO6 | A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of bond |
| bo.. | BO4 | A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates. |
| bo... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of bone |
| bo.... | BO6 | A type of hat, once worn by women or children, held in place by ribbons tied under the chin. |
| 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... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of boo |
| 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. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of boot |
| bo.... | BO6 | A soft, woolen shoe, usually knitted, for a baby or small pet. |
| bo.... | BO6 | A collection of compromised computers that is gradually built up and then unleashed as a DDOS attack or used to send very large quantities of spam. |
| bo... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of bind |
| bo..... | BO7 | simple past tense and past participle of bound |
| bo.. | BO4 | A period of something, especially one painful or unpleasant. |
| bu.... | BU6 | simple past tense and past participle of bud |
| bu.. | BU4 | The middle part, cavity, or belly of a sail; the part of a furled sail which is at the center of the yard. |
| bu.... | BU6 | simple past tense and past participle of bunt |
| 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. |
| bu.... | BU6 | simple past tense and past participle of butt |
| bu.... | BU6 | A knob or disc that is passed through a loop or (buttonhole), serving as a fastener. |
| de.... | DE6 | To remove the bones from. |
| de..... | DE7 | Having its bones removed. |
| de.. | DE4 | An action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another, adopt toward another, or give to another. |
| de... | DE5 | A performer's first performance to the public, in sport, the arts or some other area. |
| de..... | DE7 | simple past tense and past participle of debut |
| do... | DO5 | To be undecided about; to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, to question. |
| do..... | DO7 | simple past tense and past participle of doubt |
| du.... | DU6 | simple past tense and past participle of dub |
| eb... | EB5 | simple past tense and past participle of ebb |
| eb.. | EB4 | (now poetic) Ebony; an ebony tree. |
| 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.. | OB4 | A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family. |
| ou...... | OU8 | Leaving or departing; traveling away from; outward bound. |
| tu.. | TU4 | Anything that is hollow and cylindrical in shape. |
| tu... | TU5 | Possessing a tube or tubes. |
| un.... | UN6 | To remove a bend so as to make, or allow to become, straight. |
| un.... | UN6 | simple past tense and past participle of unbend |
| un..... | UN7 | simple past tense and past participle of unbind |
| un....... | UN9 | Having no boundaries or limits. |
| un...... | UN8 | To open (something) by undoing its buttons. |
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.
- buttoned† (BU8)
- unbuttoned† (UN10)
- undoubted† (UN9)
- bedded (BE6)
- been (BE4)
- beet (BE4)
- bend (BE4)
- bent (BE4)
- bento (BE5)
- bobbed (BO6)
- bode (BO4)
- boded (BO5)
- bonbon (BO6)
- bond (BO4)
- bonded (BO6)
- bone (BO4)
- boned (BO5)
- bonnet (BO6)
- bonobo (BO6)
- boob (BO4)
- booboo (BO6)
- booed (BO5)
- boon (BO4)
- boot (BO4)
- booted (BO6)
- bootee (BO6)
- botnet (BO6)
- bound (BO5)
- bounded (BO7)
- bout (BO4)
- budded (BU6)
- bunt (BU4)
- bunted (BU6)
- butt (BU4)
- butte (BU5)
- butted (BU6)
- button (BU6)
- debone (DE6)
- deboned (DE7)
- debt (DE4)
- debut (DE5)
- debuted (DE7)
- doubt (DO5)
- doubted (DO7)
- dubbed (DU6)
- ebbed (EB5)
- ebon (EB4)
- noob (NO4)
- oboe (OB4)
- outbound (OU8)
- tube (TU4)
- tubed (TU5)
- unbend (UN6)
- unbent (UN6)
- unbound (UN7)
- unbounded (UN9)
- unbutton (UN8)
Answer Definitions
- buttoned† (verb): simple past tense and past participle of button
- unbuttoned† (verb): simple past tense and past participle of unbutton
- undoubted† (adjective): Without doubt; without question; certain.
- bedded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bed
- been (verb): past participle of be.
- beet (noun): Beta vulgaris, a plant with a swollen root which is eaten or used to make sugar.
- bend (verb): To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.
- bent (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bend
- bento (noun): A Japanese takeaway lunch served in a box, often with the food arranged into an elaborate design.
- bobbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bob
- bode (verb): To indicate by signs, as future events; to be an omen of; to portend or foretell.
- boded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bode
- bonbon (noun): A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy.
- bond (noun): Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds.
- bonded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bond
- bone (noun): A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates.
- boned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bone
- bonnet (noun): A type of hat, once worn by women or children, held in place by ribbons tied under the chin.
- 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
- booed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of boo
- 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.
- booted (verb): simple past tense and past participle of boot
- bootee (noun): A soft, woolen shoe, usually knitted, for a baby or small pet.
- botnet (noun): A collection of compromised computers that is gradually built up and then unleashed as a DDOS attack or used to send very large quantities of spam.
- bound (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bind
- bounded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bound
- bout (noun): A period of something, especially one painful or unpleasant.
- budded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bud
- bunt (noun): The middle part, cavity, or belly of a sail; the part of a furled sail which is at the center of the yard.
- bunted (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bunt
- 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.
- butted (verb): simple past tense and past participle of butt
- button (noun): A knob or disc that is passed through a loop or (buttonhole), serving as a fastener.
- debone (verb): To remove the bones from.
- deboned (adjective): Having its bones removed.
- debt (noun): An action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another, adopt toward another, or give to another.
- debut (noun): A performer's first performance to the public, in sport, the arts or some other area.
- debuted (verb): simple past tense and past participle of debut
- doubt (verb): To be undecided about; to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, to question.
- doubted (verb): simple past tense and past participle of doubt
- dubbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of dub
- ebbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of ebb
- ebon (noun): (now poetic) Ebony; an ebony tree.
- 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.
- oboe (noun): A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family.
- outbound (adjective): Leaving or departing; traveling away from; outward bound.
- tube (noun): Anything that is hollow and cylindrical in shape.
- tubed (adjective): Possessing a tube or tubes.
- unbend (verb): To remove a bend so as to make, or allow to become, straight.
- unbent (verb): simple past tense and past participle of unbend
- unbound (verb): simple past tense and past participle of unbind
- unbounded (adjective): Having no boundaries or limits.
- unbutton (verb): To open (something) by undoing its buttons.