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 centers on the letter T, surrounded by C, D, I, M, O, Y — a mix that feels compact yet loaded with potential. The kind of puzzle where every discovery feels like finding something valuable, which fits beautifully with our pangram: commodity.

As always, here are the day’s basic rules:

  • Every word must include the center letter T
  • Words must be at least four letters long
  • Letters available: T, C, D, I, M, O, Y
    Center letter:     T
    Outer letters: C, D, I, M, O, Y

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 13 October 2025

A few of today’s shiny finds with "T" include:

  • CITY
  • DITTY
  • MOODY
  • MITY
  • OMIT
  • TIDY
  • TOYED
  • DOTTY
  • MODIFY
  • TIMID
  • TODAY
  • TOMMY

Pangram

COMMODITY — something valuable, useful, and essential. The kind of word that perfectly sums up the satisfaction of uncovering a rare gem in a grid of letters.

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 glowed with that sense of tangible satisfaction — every word a token, every find a little victory.
And then, finally, COMMODITY emerges — the word that ties it all together.

Like the best treasures, it’s earned through patience, pattern-spotting, and that quiet hum of intuition.
Keep collecting your wins, one letter at a time.