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.

About today’s puzzle

Today’s hive spins around the letter B, surrounded by A, L, C, I, T, E — a sleek arrangement that immediately promises rhythm and symmetry. It’s a puzzle that dances — fitting, since our pangram of the day is the word balletic.

To recap the rules:

  • Every word must contain the center letter B
  • Words must be at least four letters long
  • Only the seven given letters can be used
    Center letter: B
    Outer letters: A, L, C, I, T, E

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 12 October 2025

  • ABLE
  • BAIL
  • BEAT
  • BITE
  • BELT
  • LABEL
  • CABLE
  • TABLE
  • BATHE
  • BITAL
  • LABILE

Pangram

BALLETIC — graceful, controlled, and expressive. The perfect word for a puzzle that asks solvers to move with precision and flow through the possibilities.

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

Today’s puzzle embodies movement. You start grounded in small, familiar words, then rise into rhythm — that effortless glide of discovery when you finally see BALLETIC forming before your eyes.

It’s the perfect reminder: even words can dance if you let them. Keep playing, keep moving, and trust your rhythm — every solve is a performance worth celebrating.