If you’ve ever played the New York Times Spelling Bee, you know that tiny click of triumph when a word pops out of the jumble. Today’s puzzle is a lovely mix of obvious hits and cheeky surprises — perfect for stacking up points and feeling like a word wizard. Below you’ll find the letters, the rules, a full word list I pulled together (≥4 letters, must include the center letter O), a pangram highlight, and a few quick solving tips so you keep crushing these puzzles.

About today’s puzzle

Rules refresher: Use only the seven given letters to form words; every word must include the center letter O, words must be at least four letters long, and letters may be repeated.

Date: 14 September 2025
Center letter (required): O
Other letters: H, E, A, D, P, T

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 14 September 2025

Here’s a best-effort list of words that fit today’s rules. Keep in mind: some are rare or unusual, so the official NYT answers may not include every single one. If you notice a word I’ve missed, drop it in the comments — you’ll help everyone else out.

Words you can make for today's NYT Spelling Bee Puzzle:

  • adopt
  • adopted
  • dope
  • dopey → (contains Y — not allowed; ignore)
  • hoed
  • hoof → (F not allowed; ignore)
  • hood
  • hoot
  • hooted
  • hoop
  • hoopoe
  • photo
  • poet
  • pooh
  • potoo
  • pot
  • potato
  • pothead

Pangram of the day

pothead — it uses every single allowed letter (P-O-T-H-E-A-D). Pangrams are the big score-grabbers: find one and you’ll feel unstoppable. You will absolutely deserve the extra glory points if you spot this one in the grid.

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

Spelling Bee is all about practice, pattern recognition, and that rush when the perfect word suddenly pops into place. With today’s O-centered puzzle, you have plenty of playful starting points (hop, top, pot, hat) to grow into longer or trickier words. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to spot patterns — soon you’ll be seeing possibilities everywhere.

So, how many words did you manage to find today?