NYT Spelling Bee Answers for December 19, 2023
Game Summary
| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | f, l, m, o, r, u |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 51 words |
| Total Points | 188 points |
| Genius Level | 132 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 | Σ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 |
| F | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| L | 4 | 2 | - | - | 6 |
| M | 4 | 6 | 1 | - | 11 |
| O | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| R | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| U | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 22 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 51 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AF×3 AL×4 AM×3 AR×4 AU×4 |
|---|---|
| F | FA×4 FL×2 FO×5 |
| L | LA×1 LL×1 LO×3 LU×1 |
| M | MA×6 MO×4 MU×1 |
| O | OF×1 OR×1 |
| R | RO×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.
| A | AFA×1 AFO×1 AFR×1 ALA×1 ALF×1 ALO×1 ALU×1 AMM×1 AMO×2 ARM×2 ARO×1 ARU×1 AUR×4 |
|---|---|
| F | FAL×2 FAR×2 FLO×2 FOA×2 FOR×3 |
| L | LAM×1 LLA×1 LOA×2 LOO×1 LUA×1 |
| M | MAL×1 MAM×3 MAR×1 MAU×1 MOL×1 MOM×1 MOO×1 MOR×1 MUR×1 |
| O | OFF×1 ORA×1 |
| R | ROA×2 RUR×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) |
|---|---|---|
| fo..... † | FO7 | Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically. |
| af.. | AF4 | At, to, or from a great distance; far away. |
| af... | AF5 | In a state of collision or entanglement. |
| af.. | AF4 | hairstyle characterized by tightly curled locks and a rounded shape. |
| al... | AL5 | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
| al..... | AL7 | A plant, principally of Medicago sativa, grown as a pasture crop. |
| al... | AL5 | At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away. |
| 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.. | AM4 | Ammunition. |
| am.... | AM6 | Neither moral nor immoral. |
| am... | AM5 | Love, affection. |
| ar.... | AR6 | The amount an arm or arms can hold. |
| ar... | AR5 | A protective layer over a body, vehicle, or other object intended to deflect or diffuse damaging forces. |
| ar... | AR5 | A smell; especially a pleasant spicy or fragrant one. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A flower or plant in the genus Arum |
| au.. | AU4 | Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something. |
| au... | AU5 | Of or pertaining to the ear. |
| au.... | AU6 | An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively. |
| au..... | AU7 | Pertaining to the dawn; dawning, eastern, like a new beginning. |
| fa.. | FA4 | To be moved downwards. To move to a lower position under the effect of gravity. |
| fa..... | FA7 | A reduction or decline. |
| fa.. | FA4 | A place where agricultural and similar activities take place, especially the growing of crops or the raising of livestock. |
| fa... | FA5 | Emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum). |
| fl... | FL5 | Plants considered as a group, especially those of a particular country, region, time, etc. |
| fl.... | FL6 | Of, pertaining to, or connected with flowers. |
| fo.. | FO4 | A young horse or other equine, especially just after birth or less than a year old. |
| fo.. | FO4 | A substance composed of a large collection of bubbles or their solidified remains, especially: |
| fo.. | FO4 | plural of forum (alternative form of forums). |
| fo.... | FO6 | Being in accord with established forms. |
| la.. | LA4 | A master of Tibetan Buddhism. |
| ll... | LL5 | A South American mammal of the camel family, Lama glama, used as a domestic beast of burden and a source of wool and meat. |
| lo.. | LO4 | (also loaf of bread) A block of bread after baking. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A type of soil; an earthy mixture of sand, silt and clay, with organic matter to which its fertility is chiefly due. |
| lo... | LO5 | Alternative form of loofah |
| lu.. | LU4 | An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment. |
| ma.. | MA4 | A pedestrianised street, especially a shopping precinct. |
| ma.. | MA4 | Mother, female parent. |
| ma... | MA5 | The milk-secreting organ of female humans and other mammals which includes the mammary gland and the nipple or teat; a breast; an udder. |
| ma.... | MA6 | An animal of the class Mammalia, characterized by being warm-blooded, having hair and producing milk with which to feed its young. |
| ma.. | MA4 | madam; a polite term of address for a lady. |
| ma.. | MA4 | A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat. |
| mo... | MO5 | A back tooth having a broad surface used for grinding one's food. |
| mo... | MO5 | mother |
| mo... | MO5 | Money, cash. |
| mo... | MO5 | Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour, especially for teaching right behaviour. |
| mu... | MU5 | A large painting, usually drawn on a wall. |
| of... | OF5 | The internal organs of an animal, used as animal food. |
| or.. | OR4 | Relating to the mouth. |
| ro.. | RO4 | To wander or travel freely and with no specific destination. |
| ro.. | RO4 | To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion. |
| ru... | RU5 | Relating to the countryside or to agriculture. |
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.
- formula† (FO7)
- afar (AF4)
- afoul (AF5)
- afro (AF4)
- alarm (AL5)
- alfalfa (AL7)
- aloof (AL5)
- alum (AL4)
- ammo (AM4)
- amoral (AM6)
- amour (AM5)
- armful (AR6)
- armor (AR5)
- aroma (AR5)
- arum (AR4)
- aura (AU4)
- aural (AU5)
- aurora (AU6)
- auroral (AU7)
- fall (FA4)
- falloff (FA7)
- farm (FA4)
- farro (FA5)
- flora (FL5)
- floral (FL6)
- foal (FO4)
- foam (FO4)
- fora (FO4)
- formal (FO6)
- lama (LA4)
- llama (LL5)
- loaf (LO4)
- loam (LO4)
- loofa (LO5)
- luau (LU4)
- mall (MA4)
- mama (MA4)
- mamma (MA5)
- mammal (MA6)
- marm (MA4)
- maul (MA4)
- molar (MO5)
- momma (MO5)
- moola (MO5)
- moral (MO5)
- mural (MU5)
- offal (OF5)
- oral (OR4)
- roam (RO4)
- roar (RO4)
- rural (RU5)
Answer Definitions
- formula† (noun): Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically.
- afar (adverb): At, to, or from a great distance; far away.
- afoul (adverb): In a state of collision or entanglement.
- afro (noun): hairstyle characterized by tightly curled locks and a rounded shape.
- alarm (noun): A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
- alfalfa (noun): A plant, principally of Medicago sativa, grown as a pasture crop.
- aloof (adverb): At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.
- 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).
- ammo (noun): Ammunition.
- amoral (adjective): Neither moral nor immoral.
- amour (noun): Love, affection.
- armful (noun): The amount an arm or arms can hold.
- armor (noun): A protective layer over a body, vehicle, or other object intended to deflect or diffuse damaging forces.
- aroma (noun): A smell; especially a pleasant spicy or fragrant one.
- arum (noun): A flower or plant in the genus Arum
- aura (noun): Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
- aural (adjective): Of or pertaining to the ear.
- aurora (noun): An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively.
- auroral (adjective): Pertaining to the dawn; dawning, eastern, like a new beginning.
- fall (verb): To be moved downwards. To move to a lower position under the effect of gravity.
- falloff (noun): A reduction or decline.
- farm (noun): A place where agricultural and similar activities take place, especially the growing of crops or the raising of livestock.
- farro (noun): Emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum).
- flora (noun): Plants considered as a group, especially those of a particular country, region, time, etc.
- floral (adjective): Of, pertaining to, or connected with flowers.
- foal (noun): A young horse or other equine, especially just after birth or less than a year old.
- foam (noun): A substance composed of a large collection of bubbles or their solidified remains, especially:
- fora (noun): plural of forum (alternative form of forums).
- formal (adjective): Being in accord with established forms.
- lama (noun): A master of Tibetan Buddhism.
- llama (noun): A South American mammal of the camel family, Lama glama, used as a domestic beast of burden and a source of wool and meat.
- loaf (noun): (also loaf of bread) A block of bread after baking.
- loam (noun): A type of soil; an earthy mixture of sand, silt and clay, with organic matter to which its fertility is chiefly due.
- loofa (noun): Alternative form of loofah
- luau (noun): An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.
- mall (noun): A pedestrianised street, especially a shopping precinct.
- mama (noun): Mother, female parent.
- mamma (noun): The milk-secreting organ of female humans and other mammals which includes the mammary gland and the nipple or teat; a breast; an udder.
- mammal (noun): An animal of the class Mammalia, characterized by being warm-blooded, having hair and producing milk with which to feed its young.
- marm (noun): madam; a polite term of address for a lady.
- maul (noun): A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat.
- molar (noun): A back tooth having a broad surface used for grinding one's food.
- momma (noun): mother
- moola (noun): Money, cash.
- moral (adjective): Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behaviour, especially for teaching right behaviour.
- mural (noun): A large painting, usually drawn on a wall.
- offal (noun): The internal organs of an animal, used as animal food.
- oral (adjective): Relating to the mouth.
- roam (verb): To wander or travel freely and with no specific destination.
- roar (verb): To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.
- rural (adjective): Relating to the countryside or to agriculture.