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 is neat and focused: N sits in the middle, surrounded by U, P, R, L, O, I. That mix nudges you to anchor on N and experiment with short building blocks that expand into richer, often surprising words. Expect plenty of quick four-letter wins and a few satisfyingly longer finds.

Center Letter: N
Other Letters: U,P,R,L,O,I
Pangram: PURLOIN

Every word must include the center letter N, be at least four letters long, and use only the seven hive letters (letters may repeat). Anchor on an easy N-word first, then stretch it with prefixes/suffixes and letter swaps to uncover rarer vocabulary.

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 9 October 2025

Below are valid 4+-letter words that all include the required center letter 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:

  • pinion
  • pinon
  • prion
  • porin
  • pirn
  • pilon
  • pion
  • pinup
  • pinon
  • union
  • unpin
  • noun
  • noon
  • nori
  • loin
  • lion
  • Lino
  • ruin

Pangram of the Day

PURLOIN — the day’s pangram. A compact, sly verb meaning “to steal,” it uses every letter in the hive and makes for a perfectly thematic finish if you spot it.

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 great reminder that Spelling Bee is a momentum game: secure a few reliable N-anchors, and longer combos will follow. Little words like noun or lino lead into middling finds (pinion, purlin) and eventually the full purloin. Whether you nabbed the pangram early or it was your final flourish, nice solving — keep stacking those small wins.