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.

The NYT Spelling Bee for 9 November 2025 centers on N (with surrounding letters A, C, I, L, R, Y). Remember every valid word must include the center letter N and be at least four letters long. This hive offers a mix of familiar short words and a few less common formations, making the puzzle feel moderately tricky but rewarding once you spot the long, multi-letter possibilities.

About today’s puzzle

N sits at the core and the outer letters are mostly consonants with a single strong vowel (A) plus Y doing extra work. That balance keeps the hive fairly tight but productive for N-led builds. Expect more suffixes, repeated-letter forms, and derivations rather than many simple vowel-start words.

NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: 9 November 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.

  • ancillary
  • annal
  • canal
  • canary
  • canny
  • cannily
  • carnal
  • carny
  • cairn
  • clan
  • cranny
  • cranial
  • inlay
  • inly
  • lain
  • nail
  • narc
  • nary
  • rain
  • rainy
  • rani
  • yarn

Pangram of the day

Ancillary is our long-answer today — a perfect fit because it uses every hive letter and includes repeated letters when allowed. The word means subordinate or providing support, and it neatly ties together the puzzle’s available consonants and vowel. Players who spotted ancillary early unlocked a large portion of the word space; finding it typically signals a high score and gives confidence to hunt smaller derivatives and parallel formations today.

Quick tactics for any puzzle

  • Start with the center letter and list every short word that includes it.
  • Play with prefixes and suffixes (re-, -ly, -al, -y) to extend base stems.
  • Anagram your discoveries to find hidden mid-length words.
  • Use repeated letters (double N or double L) when allowed to form new entries.
  • Begin with easy 4-letter words to build momentum and reveal patterns.

Final thoughts

This hive rewarded players who focused on N-centered builds; expect between 25–50 valid answers depending how permissive you are with obscure forms. How many did you spot today? Share your score and favorite finds in the comments.