On 8 December 2025 the NYT Spelling Bee served up the hive shown above. As always, words must be at least four letters and include the center letter A. Today’s set (A, Z, B, I, P, T, E) felt zippy, the Z changing play and creating high-value but sometimes restrictive options, balanced by useful vowels.
About today’s puzzle
The center letter A forces every answer to pivot around that vowel, which is lucky here. Surrounding letters include a rare Z and a tight consonant group (B, P, T). The mix gives a handful of common 4-letter words but otherwise feels restrictive — rewarding players who chase Z combinations.
NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: 8 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.
- abet
- abate
- bait
- beta
- bate
- beat
- peat
- pate
- tape
- pita
- pieta
- pizza
- piazza
- zeta
- taze
- petai
Pangram of the day
Baptize is today’s standout because it uses every required letter — B, A, P, T, I, Z, E — in one compact verb. That combination pairs the high-value Z with familiar consonants and the central A, so spotting it feels like unlocking the whole hive at once. It’s a tidy, satisfying find and a reminder to always try Z-combos.
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
Nice work making it this far — puzzles like today’s reward patience and playful letter-mixing. Share how many words you found, or tell me whether you spotted the big word (baptize)!
Discussion