The New York Times Spelling Bee for December 30, 2025 challenges you to form words using today’s seven-letter hive. Every valid word must be at least four letters long and must include the center letter, I. At first glance, this letter set feels friendly, but overlapping consonants and tempting shortcuts can make the puzzle more deceptive than expected.
About today’s puzzle
Today’s center letter is I, which appears often enough to keep the board active. The surrounding mix leans consonant-heavy, with D, G, P, and L doing most of the work, balanced by O and E. The puzzle feels fairly open once you spot common endings, but it can feel restrictive early if you miss repeated-letter patterns.
NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: 30 December 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 list may vary.
- idle
- idol
- glide
- gild
- pile
- plied
- lied
- oiling
- piling
- lido
- diol
- opiling
Pangram of the day
Dogpile is today’s standout solution because it neatly uses every letter in the hive while still feeling like a natural, everyday word. It includes the mandatory center letter I and pulls in all six outer letters without padding or repetition tricks. The word is fun because it describes chaotic energy—much like what happens when solvers suddenly spot it after missing it for far too long.
Quick tactics for any puzzle
- Start with the center letter
- Play with prefixes and suffixes
- Anagram your discoveries
- Use repeated letters
- Begin with easy 4-letter words
Final thoughts
December 30’s puzzle rewards patience more than speed. Once the patterns click, the board opens up in a satisfying way. How many words did you find today, and did you spot the pangram early or late?
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