NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 8, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, d, i, n, o, r |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 49 words |
| Total Points | 169 points |
| Genius Level | 118 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 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| D | 3 | 5 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 11 |
| I | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 3 |
| L | 14 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 18 |
| N | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 |
| O | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| R | 5 | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 7 | Σ | 28 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 49 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AI×1 AN×2 AR×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DI×4 DO×4 DR×3 |
| I | ID×1 IN×2 |
| L | LA×8 LI×3 LL×1 LO×6 |
| N | NA×1 NO×2 |
| O | OL×1 OR×2 |
| R | RA×3 RI×2 RO×2 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | AIO×1 ANA×1 ANN×1 ARI×1 |
|---|---|
| D | DIA×1 DIL×2 DIR×1 DOL×3 DOO×1 DRI×1 DRO×2 |
| I | IDO×1 INL×2 |
| L | LAI×3 LAN×4 LAR×1 LIA×1 LIO×1 LIR×1 LLA×1 LOA×2 LOI×1 LOL×1 LOO×1 LOR×1 |
| N | NAI×1 NOD×1 NON×1 |
| O | OLI×1 ORA×1 ORD×1 |
| R | RAD×1 RAI×2 RIA×1 RIL×1 ROI×1 ROL×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) |
|---|---|---|
| do...... † | DO8 | A nail with a wide head, traditionally used in the construction and ornamentation of wooden doors. |
| or..... † | OR7 | Indicating position in a sequence. |
| ai... | AI5 | A type of sauce, similar to mayonnaise, made from garlic, egg, lemon juice and olive oil. |
| an.. | AN4 | of, related to, intended for or involving the anus. |
| an... | AN5 | The record of a single event or item. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates. |
| di.. | DI4 | A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed). |
| di... | DI5 | An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use. |
| di.. | DI4 | Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed. |
| di.... | DI6 | A traditional Alpine women's dress having a tight bodice and full skirt |
| do.. | DO4 | A toy in the form of a human. |
| do.... | DO6 | Official designation for currency in some parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. Its symbol is $. |
| do... | DO5 | Alternative spelling of dolour |
| dr... | DR5 | To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool). |
| dr... | DR5 | Oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish. |
| dr... | DR5 | To secrete saliva, especially in anticipation of food. |
| id.. | ID4 | A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power. |
| in.... | IN6 | simple past tense and past participle of inlay |
| in.... | IN6 | Within the land; relatively remote from the ocean or from open water; interior. |
| la.. | LA4 | simple past tense and past participle of lay |
| la.. | LA4 | past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”) |
| la.. | LA4 | A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground. |
| la... | LA5 | A Hawaiian-style roofed patio. |
| la.. | LA4 | The part of Earth which is not covered by oceans or other bodies of water. |
| la...... | LA8 | A person that leases real property; a lessor. |
| la..... | LA7 | A greasy yellow substance chemically akin to wax that is secreted from wooly animals, with a variety of uses from rust prevention, lubrication and waterproofing to cosmetics and skin ointments. |
| la.. | LA4 | Fat from the abdomen of a pig, especially as prepared for use in cooking or pharmacy. |
| li.. | LI4 | One who frequently tells lies. |
| li.. | LI4 | A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe. |
| li.. | LI4 | The basic unit of currency in Turkey. |
| ll... | LL5 | A plain or steppe in parts of Latin America. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A burden; a weight to be carried. |
| lo.. | LO4 | An act or instance of lending, an act or instance of granting something for temporary use. |
| lo.. | LO4 | The part of the body (of humans and quadrupeds) at each side of the backbone, between the ribs and hips |
| lo.. | LO4 | To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease. |
| lo.. | LO4 | An idler, a lout. |
| lo.. | LO4 | The master of the servants of a household; the master of a feudal manor The male head of a household, a father or husband. The owner of a house, piece of land, or other possession |
| na.. | NA4 | The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals. |
| no... | NO5 | Of the nature of, or relating to, a node. |
| no....... | NO9 | 10. |
| ol.. | OL4 | A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables. |
| or.. | OR4 | Relating to the mouth. |
| ra.... | RA6 | Arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to a common centre. |
| ra.. | RA4 | A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing. |
| ra...... | RA8 | A permanent road consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on. |
| ri.. | RI4 | The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen. |
| ri.. | RI4 | A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet. |
| ro.. | RO4 | To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of. |
| ro.. | RO4 | To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface. |
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.
- doornail† (DO8)
- ordinal† (OR7)
- aioli (AI5)
- anal (AN4)
- annal (AN5)
- aril (AR4)
- dial (DI4)
- dildo (DI5)
- dill (DI4)
- dirndl (DI6)
- doll (DO4)
- dollar (DO6)
- dolor (DO5)
- drill (DR5)
- droll (DR5)
- drool (DR5)
- idol (ID4)
- inlaid (IN6)
- inland (IN6)
- laid (LA4)
- lain (LA4)
- lair (LA4)
- lanai (LA5)
- land (LA4)
- landlord (LA8)
- lanolin (LA7)
- lard (LA4)
- liar (LI4)
- lion (LI4)
- lira (LI4)
- llano (LL5)
- load (LO4)
- loan (LO4)
- loin (LO4)
- loll (LO4)
- loon (LO4)
- lord (LO4)
- nail (NA4)
- nodal (NO5)
- nonillion (NO9)
- olio (OL4)
- oral (OR4)
- radial (RA6)
- rail (RA4)
- railroad (RA8)
- rial (RI4)
- rill (RI4)
- roil (RO4)
- roll (RO4)
Answer Definitions
- doornail† (noun): A nail with a wide head, traditionally used in the construction and ornamentation of wooden doors.
- ordinal† (adjective): Indicating position in a sequence.
- aioli (noun): A type of sauce, similar to mayonnaise, made from garlic, egg, lemon juice and olive oil.
- anal (adjective): of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.
- annal (noun): The record of a single event or item.
- aril (noun): A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates.
- dial (noun): A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
- dildo (noun): An artificial phallus (penis) for sexual use.
- dill (noun): Anethum graveolens (the type species of the genus Anethum), a herb, the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; also known as dillseed.
- dirndl (noun): A traditional Alpine women's dress having a tight bodice and full skirt
- doll (noun): A toy in the form of a human.
- dollar (noun): Official designation for currency in some parts of the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. Its symbol is $.
- dolor (noun): Alternative spelling of dolour
- drill (verb): To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool).
- droll (adjective): Oddly humorous; whimsical, amusing in a quaint way; waggish.
- drool (verb): To secrete saliva, especially in anticipation of food.
- idol (noun): A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
- inlaid (verb): simple past tense and past participle of inlay
- inland (adjective): Within the land; relatively remote from the ocean or from open water; interior.
- laid (verb): simple past tense and past participle of lay
- lain (verb): past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”)
- lair (noun): A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground.
- lanai (noun): A Hawaiian-style roofed patio.
- land (noun): The part of Earth which is not covered by oceans or other bodies of water.
- landlord (noun): A person that leases real property; a lessor.
- lanolin (noun): A greasy yellow substance chemically akin to wax that is secreted from wooly animals, with a variety of uses from rust prevention, lubrication and waterproofing to cosmetics and skin ointments.
- lard (noun): Fat from the abdomen of a pig, especially as prepared for use in cooking or pharmacy.
- liar (noun): One who frequently tells lies.
- lion (noun): A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.
- lira (noun): The basic unit of currency in Turkey.
- llano (noun): A plain or steppe in parts of Latin America.
- load (noun): A burden; a weight to be carried.
- loan (noun): An act or instance of lending, an act or instance of granting something for temporary use.
- loin (noun): The part of the body (of humans and quadrupeds) at each side of the backbone, between the ribs and hips
- loll (verb): To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease.
- loon (noun): An idler, a lout.
- lord (noun): The master of the servants of a household; the master of a feudal manor The male head of a household, a father or husband. The owner of a house, piece of land, or other possession
- nail (noun): The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.
- nodal (adjective): Of the nature of, or relating to, a node.
- nonillion (numeral): 10.
- olio (noun): A rich, thick, Spanish stew consisting of meat and vegetables.
- oral (adjective): Relating to the mouth.
- radial (adjective): Arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to a common centre.
- rail (noun): A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
- railroad (noun): A permanent road consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on.
- rial (noun): The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen.
- rill (noun): A very small brook; a streamlet; a creek, rivulet.
- roil (verb): To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of.
- roll (verb): To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface.