NYT Spelling Bee Hints & Analysis

Tap or hover over a word to see its definition.

• account keep an account of
• accountant someone who maintains and audits business accounts
• acorn fruit of the oak tree: a smooth thin-walled nut in a woody cup-shaped base
• actor a theatrical performer
• actuator a mechanism that puts something into automatic action
• arcana
• arco (of instruments in the violin family) to be played with the bow
• attract be attractive to
• attractant
• attractor an entertainer who attracts large audiences
• autocrat a cruel and oppressive dictator
• cacao tropical American tree producing cacao beans
• cancan a high-kicking dance of French origin performed by a female chorus line
• canna any plant of the genus Canna having large sheathing leaves and clusters of large showy flowers
• cannon fire a cannon
• cannot
• canon a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
• cant heel over
• cantata a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text
• canton divide into cantons, of a country
• cantor the official of a synagogue who conducts the liturgical part of the service and sings or chants the prayers intended to be performed as solos
• carat the unit of measurement for the proportion of gold in an alloy; 18-karat gold is 75% gold; 24-karat gold is pure gold
• carrot perennial plant widely cultivated as an annual in many varieties for its long conical orange edible roots; temperate and tropical regions
• cart transport something in a cart
• carton the quantity contained in a carton
• cartoon draw cartoons of
• cataract a large waterfall; violent rush of water over a precipice
• coat cover or provide with a coat
• coca a South American shrub whose leaves are chewed by natives of the Andes; a source of cocaine
• cocoa powder of ground roasted cacao beans with most of the fat removed
• coconut tall palm tree bearing coconuts as fruits; widely planted throughout the tropics
• cocoon retreat as if into a cocoon, as from an unfriendly environment
• concoct devise or invent
• concur be in accord; be in agreement
• contact be in direct physical contact with; make contact
• contort twist and press out of shape
• contour form the contours of
• contract engage by written agreement
• contractor someone (a person or firm) who contracts to build things
• coot slate-black slow-flying birds somewhat resembling ducks
• corn feed (cattle) with corn
• corona a viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that caused a global pandemic in 2020
• cotton take a liking to
• count have weight; have import, carry weight
• court make amorous advances towards
• croc
• croon sing softly
• crouton a small piece of toasted or fried bread; served in soup or salads
• curacao flavored with sour orange peel
• curator the custodian of a collection (as a museum or library)
• currant any of various deciduous shrubs of the genus Ribes bearing currants
• curt brief and to the point; effectively cut short
• cutout a part that is cut out or is intended to be cut out
• narc a lawman concerned with narcotics violations
• narco
• occur to be found to exist
• octant a measuring instrument for measuring angles to a celestial body; similar to a sextant but with 45 degree calibration
• orca predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
• raccoon the fur of the North American racoon
• rancor a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
• rococo having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation
• taco (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Mexican descent
• tact consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
• toccata a baroque musical composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) with full chords and rapid elaborate runs in a rhythmically free style
• toucan brilliantly colored arboreal fruit-eating bird of tropical America having a very large thin-walled beak
• tract an extended area of land
• tractor a wheeled vehicle with large wheels; used in farming and other applications
• turncoat a disloyal person who betrays or deserts their cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
• uncut complete