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

Today’s hive puts I in the center, surrounded by T, E, O, B, L, C. It’s a tidy, satisfying set — one that rewards both quick four-letter wins and a little patience to spot longer, high-scoring words. Play around with common endings (-IT, -LE, -TO) and the pangram will start to peek through.

Rules reminder: every word must include the center letter I, be at least four letters long, and use only the seven hive letters (letters may be repeated). Focus on short connectors first, then stretch into longer words.
Center letter: I
Other letters: T, E, O, B, L, C

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 30 September 2025

Below are example answers you can make today — every word here contains the required I and is four letters or longer:

  • toilet
  • toile
  • title
  • little
  • licit
  • biotic
  • boil
  • coil
  • toil
  • bite
  • bile
  • obit
  • cite
  • tile
  • tilt
  • loci
  • olio
  • lotic
  • elite

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 is a satisfying lesson in build-up: small, confident finds (think tile, toil, bite) give you the rhythm to chase down longer combos. When the letters start to click together, the pangram collectible will appear like a prize — tidy, rewarding, and absolutely worth the hunt. How many did you uncover today?