If you’ve ever played the New York Times Spelling Bee, you know how satisfying it feels to find that one word hiding in plain sight. Today’s puzzle is especially fun because the combinations are both straightforward and a little tricky. In this post, you’ll see the full word list you can make, learn some strategies to help you solve puzzles faster, and get a chance to share any words you spotted that aren’t listed here.

About today’s puzzle

There’s a special pleasure to puzzles that feel tidy but still hide a few surprises — and today’s Spelling Bee delivers exactly that. With F in the center and N, O, A, C, I, T surrounding it, this grid pushes you to build around the F-anchor, turning short wins into longer, satisfying finds.

Rules recap: every word must include the center letter F, be at least four letters long, and use only the seven hive letters (letters may repeat). This hive favors both compact nouns and longer, stretched-out forms — ideal for chaining small discoveries into the big reveal.
Center letter (required): F
Other letters: N, O, A, C, I, T

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 1 October 2025

  • fiction
  • fanatic
  • faint
  • fiat
  • foci
  • font
  • fontina
  • foot
  • infact
  • coffin
  • nonfat
  • nonfiction

Pangram of the day

FACTION — the day’s pangram, a perfect word that uses every letter in the hive (F, A, C, T, I, O, N). Nicely balanced and very satisfying to spot — congrats if you found it!

Quick tactics for any puzzle

  1. Start with the center letter.
    Since every word must include it, try building short “roots” with that letter first, then expand.
  2. Play with prefixes and suffixes.
    Look for common starters (like re-, pre-, tri-) and endings (like -er, -ry, -ing). These patterns often unlock multiple words.
  3. Anagram your discoveries.
    Once you’ve found a word, shuffle its letters around — you’ll often uncover two or three more.
  4. Use repeated letters.
    Remember, the same letter can appear more than once. Doubling letters opens up words you might otherwise overlook.
  5. Hunt for pangrams.
    Try to use all seven letters at least once. Pangrams aren’t always easy, but when you find one, it feels like striking gold.

Habits to sharpen your skills

  • Begin with easy 4-letter words to get your brain moving.
  • Rotate vowels and consonants through different combinations to see what “clicks.”
  • Step away and return later — fresh eyes will catch words you missed.

Optional tools if you want extra help

  • Pen and paper. Writing the letters down or sketching patterns can reveal hidden words.
  • Word-finding apps. Great for study or practice, but use sparingly if you want to keep the challenge.
  • Personal word journal. Track words you miss often — over time, you’ll train yourself to recognize them quickly.

Wrap-up

This hive rewards steady, F-first thinking: once you secure a few reliable short words, the longer combinations start revealing themselves naturally. Faint and fiction are great warm-ups; faction is the satisfying payoff. Keep practicing this habit of building from small anchors — it’s how pangrams stop being surprises and start being expected wins. How many did you find today?