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

This hive puts W squarely in the center and surrounds it with a tight, consonant-forward set. That combination favors short, sharp stems and a few longer -ing forms. Play it like a building game: lock down a few dependable 4-letter anchors that include W, then stretch them into longer verbs and gerunds.

Center letter: W
Outer letters: C, I, N, G, H, T

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 31 October 2025

Below are valid words (4+ letters) you can form from the hive. Each entry contains W and uses only the letters C, I, N, G, H, T:

  1. twitch
  2. witch
  3. witching
  4. with
  5. whit
  6. which
  7. wight
  8. whiting
  9. wing
  10. winging
  11. winch
  12. winching
  13. within
  14. twit

Pangram of the Day: TWITCHING

A smart and balanced puzzle with an accessible pangram — TWITCHING — that reminds solvers to stay open to all possible letter paths. With familiar stems and satisfying builds, this grid rewards a steady, mindful rhythm over speed. Once you spot smaller connectors like line or clue, the larger words unfold naturally.

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.

Final Thoughts

Today’s puzzle was a neat reminder that sometimes the most direct word holds the key. TWITCHING tied everything together with clarity and purpose, showing how simple connections can form something complete. Keep those letters spinning — tomorrow’s hive might just hide another elegant surprise.