NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 3, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | N |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, i, l, p, t, y |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 55 words |
| Total Points | 276 points |
| Genius Level | 193 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</th><th>9 | Σ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 6 |
| I | - | 2 | - | 3 | - | 1 | 6 |
| L | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 6 |
| N | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 11 |
| P | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | - | 19 |
| T | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | 7 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 13 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 55 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AN×4 AP×1 AT×1 |
|---|---|
| I | IN×6 |
| L | LA×3 LI×3 |
| N | NA×9 NI×2 |
| P | PA×6 PI×5 PL×8 |
| T | TA×2 TI×5 |
| Y |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ANA×2 ANN×1 ANT×1 API×1 ATT×1 |
|---|---|
| I | INA×3 INI×2 INL×1 |
| L | LAI×1 LAN×2 LIN×2 LIT×1 |
| N | NAA×1 NAI×1 NAN×2 NAT×5 NIN×1 NIP×1 |
| P | PAI×2 PAN×3 PAT×1 PIN×4 PIP×1 PLA×6 PLI×2 |
| T | TAI×1 TAN×1 TIN×4 TIT×1 |
| Y |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| in..... † | IN7 | In an inapt manner; inappropriately. |
| pl...... † | PL8 | In a pliant manner. |
| an.. | AN4 | of, related to, intended for or involving the anus. |
| an.... | AN6 | Involving the anus. |
| an... | AN5 | The record of a single event or item. |
| an.. | AN4 | Opposed to something. |
| ap... | AP5 | Relating to bees. |
| at.... | AT6 | To gain (an object or desired result). |
| in..... | IN7 | The property of lacking sense or meaning (often to the point of boredom or annoyance). |
| in... | IN5 | Unapt |
| in..... | IN7 | Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin. |
| in....... | IN9 | At the beginning. |
| in... | IN5 | To place (pieces of a foreign material) within another material to form a decorative design. |
| la.. | LA4 | past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”) |
| la... | LA5 | A Hawaiian-style roofed patio. |
| la..... | LA7 | Any member of the genus Lantana of perennial verbenas with aromatic flower clusters. |
| li.. | LI4 | Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc. |
| li... | LI5 | Covered with lint. |
| li.... | LI6 | A ritual liturgical prayer in which a series of prayers recited by a leader are alternated with responses from the congregation. |
| na.. | NA4 | A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine. |
| na.. | NA4 | The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals. |
| na.. | NA4 | A banana. |
| na... | NA5 | A child's nurse. |
| na... | NA5 | Of or relating to birth. |
| na...... | NA8 | The ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year. |
| na.... | NA6 | floating or swimming (in water) |
| na..... | NA7 | In a natty manner. |
| na... | NA5 | Smart and fashionable. |
| ni... | NI5 | A silly or foolish person. |
| ni... | NI5 | fast; speedy |
| pa.. | PA4 | An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt. |
| pa... | PA5 | A substance that is applied as a liquid or paste, and dries into a solid coating that protects or adds color/colour to an object or surface to which it has been applied. |
| pa.... | PA6 | A type of grilled sandwich made of a small loaf of bread, cut horizontally, filled with meat such as salami or ham, cheese or other food. |
| pa.. | PA4 | A quick breathing; a catching of the breath; a gasp: the panting of animals such as a dog with their tong hung out- as a form of thermoregulation. |
| pa... | PA5 | Short trousers for men, or more usually boys. |
| pa.... | PA6 | A paten, flat type of dish. |
| pi.... | PI6 | Alternative form of piñata |
| pi... | PI5 | A sleeveless dress, often similar to an apron, generally worn over other clothes. |
| pi.. | PI4 | A unit of volume, equivalent to: one eighth of a gallon, specifically: 20 fluid ounces, approximately 568 millilitres (an imperial pint) : one half quart 16 US fluid ounces [473 millilitres] for liquids (a US liquid pint) or approximately 18.62 fluid ounces [551 millilitres] for dry goods (a US dry pint). 1.696 liters 12 fluid ounces |
| pi..... | PI7 | A pintail duck, a type of dabbling duck with a characteristic pointed tail. A northern pintail, Anas acuta, a dabbling duck of the northern hemisphere that has a long pointed tail. |
| pi.... | PI6 | A seed |
| pl... | PL5 | Flat, level. |
| pl..... | PL7 | In a plain manner; simply; basically. |
| pl.... | PL6 | A lament or woeful cry. |
| pl.. | PL4 | A drawing showing technical details of a building, machine, etc., with unwanted details omitted, and often using symbols rather than detailed drawing to represent doors, valves, etc. |
| pl... | PL5 | An organism that is not an animal, especially an organism capable of photosynthesis. Typically a small or herbaceous organism of this kind, rather than a tree. |
| pl...... | PL8 | A plant of the genus Plantago, with a rosette of sessile leaves about 10 cm (4") long with a narrow part instead of a petiole, and with a spike inflorescence with the flower spacing varying widely among the species. See also psyllium. |
| pl.... | PL6 | Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking |
| ta... | TA5 | A contamination, decay or putrefaction, especially in food. |
| ta.... | TA6 | Tannic acid or any of its derivatives. |
| ti.... | TI6 | In a tiny way. |
| ti... | TI5 | having a displeasingly thin, metallic sound. |
| ti.. | TI4 | A slight coloring. |
| ti.. | TI4 | Very small. |
| ti... | TI5 | Something or someone of very large stature, greatness, or godliness. |
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.
- inaptly† (IN7)
- pliantly† (PL8)
- anal (AN4)
- anally (AN6)
- annal (AN5)
- anti (AN4)
- apian (AP5)
- attain (AT6)
- inanity (IN7)
- inapt (IN5)
- initial (IN7)
- initially (IN9)
- inlay (IN5)
- lain (LA4)
- lanai (LA5)
- lantana (LA7)
- lint (LI4)
- linty (LI5)
- litany (LI6)
- naan (NA4)
- nail (NA4)
- nana (NA4)
- nanny (NA5)
- natal (NA5)
- natality (NA8)
- natant (NA6)
- nattily (NA7)
- natty (NA5)
- ninny (NI5)
- nippy (NI5)
- pain (PA4)
- paint (PA5)
- panini (PA6)
- pant (PA4)
- panty (PA5)
- patina (PA6)
- pinata (PI6)
- pinny (PI5)
- pint (PI4)
- pintail (PI7)
- pippin (PI6)
- plain (PL5)
- plainly (PL7)
- plaint (PL6)
- plan (PL4)
- plant (PL5)
- plantain (PL8)
- pliant (PL6)
- taint (TA5)
- tannin (TA6)
- tinily (TI6)
- tinny (TI5)
- tint (TI4)
- tiny (TI4)
- titan (TI5)
Answer Definitions
- inaptly† (adverb): In an inapt manner; inappropriately.
- pliantly† (adverb): In a pliant manner.
- anal (adjective): of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.
- anally (adverb): Involving the anus.
- annal (noun): The record of a single event or item.
- anti (adjective): Opposed to something.
- apian (adjective): Relating to bees.
- attain (verb): To gain (an object or desired result).
- inanity (noun): The property of lacking sense or meaning (often to the point of boredom or annoyance).
- inapt (adjective): Unapt
- initial (adjective): Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
- initially (adverb): At the beginning.
- inlay (verb): To place (pieces of a foreign material) within another material to form a decorative design.
- lain (verb): past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”)
- lanai (noun): A Hawaiian-style roofed patio.
- lantana (noun): Any member of the genus Lantana of perennial verbenas with aromatic flower clusters.
- lint (noun): Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc.
- linty (adjective): Covered with lint.
- litany (noun): A ritual liturgical prayer in which a series of prayers recited by a leader are alternated with responses from the congregation.
- naan (noun): A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
- nail (noun): The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.
- nana (noun): A banana.
- nanny (noun): A child's nurse.
- natal (adjective): Of or relating to birth.
- natality (noun): The ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year.
- natant (adjective): floating or swimming (in water)
- nattily (adverb): In a natty manner.
- natty (adjective): Smart and fashionable.
- ninny (noun): A silly or foolish person.
- nippy (adjective): fast; speedy
- pain (noun): An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt.
- paint (noun): A substance that is applied as a liquid or paste, and dries into a solid coating that protects or adds color/colour to an object or surface to which it has been applied.
- panini (noun): A type of grilled sandwich made of a small loaf of bread, cut horizontally, filled with meat such as salami or ham, cheese or other food.
- pant (noun): A quick breathing; a catching of the breath; a gasp: the panting of animals such as a dog with their tong hung out- as a form of thermoregulation.
- panty (noun): Short trousers for men, or more usually boys.
- patina (noun): A paten, flat type of dish.
- pinata (noun): Alternative form of piñata
- pinny (noun): A sleeveless dress, often similar to an apron, generally worn over other clothes.
- pint (noun): A unit of volume, equivalent to: one eighth of a gallon, specifically: 20 fluid ounces, approximately 568 millilitres (an imperial pint) : one half quart 16 US fluid ounces [473 millilitres] for liquids (a US liquid pint) or approximately 18.62 fluid ounces [551 millilitres] for dry goods (a US dry pint). 1.696 liters 12 fluid ounces
- pintail (noun): A pintail duck, a type of dabbling duck with a characteristic pointed tail. A northern pintail, Anas acuta, a dabbling duck of the northern hemisphere that has a long pointed tail.
- pippin (noun): A seed
- plain (adjective): Flat, level.
- plainly (adverb): In a plain manner; simply; basically.
- plaint (noun): A lament or woeful cry.
- plan (noun): A drawing showing technical details of a building, machine, etc., with unwanted details omitted, and often using symbols rather than detailed drawing to represent doors, valves, etc.
- plant (noun): An organism that is not an animal, especially an organism capable of photosynthesis. Typically a small or herbaceous organism of this kind, rather than a tree.
- plantain (noun): A plant of the genus Plantago, with a rosette of sessile leaves about 10 cm (4") long with a narrow part instead of a petiole, and with a spike inflorescence with the flower spacing varying widely among the species. See also psyllium.
- pliant (adjective): Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking
- taint (noun): A contamination, decay or putrefaction, especially in food.
- tannin (noun): Tannic acid or any of its derivatives.
- tinily (adverb): In a tiny way.
- tinny (adjective): having a displeasingly thin, metallic sound.
- tint (noun): A slight coloring.
- tiny (adjective): Very small.
- titan (noun): Something or someone of very large stature, greatness, or godliness.