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 Spelling Bee puzzle

Today’s hive feels clean, smooth, and slightly mysterious — fitting for a pangram like UNWAXED. With N at the center and a mix of strong consonants and flexible vowels around it, this puzzle polishes your word-finding skills beautifully.

Center Letter: N
Other Letters: U, W, X, D, E, A
Pangram: UNWAXED

You must use N in every word, and all words must be at least four letters long. This one may look tricky at first — especially with that rare X in the mix — but once you find the rhythm, the words start flowing naturally.

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 8 October 2025

Below are solid example words (4+ letters) that all include the required N. I’ve mixed short, mid-length, and longer finds so you can see the grid’s shape:

Here are a few sample words from today’s set:

  • dawn
  • wane
  • wend
  • undone
  • anew
  • end
  • dawned
  • nude
  • waned
  • naan
  • nada
  • undead
  • annex
  • annexed

Pangram of the Day

UNWAXED — meaning not covered or polished with wax. A simple, tactile word that perfectly mirrors the raw challenge of today’s hive — untouched, natural, and gleaming once solved.

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

Today’s hive is a gentle reminder that beauty doesn’t always need polish — sometimes it shines best in its pure, unwaxed form. Keep searching, keep spelling, and trust that every discovery adds a little more light to your day.

✨ Stay curious, and see you tomorrow for another dazzling puzzle!