Today’s puzzle came with a lively letter set, perfect for players who love building strong, action-packed words. With F in the center and A, I, T, R, C, N surrounding it, this hive was bursting with energy. The mix of letters allowed for a nice blend of straightforward finds and a few tricky ones — the perfect Sunday challenge.

About Today’s Puzzle

As always, the rules are simple: every word must include the center letter F and be at least four letters long. You can reuse letters as much as you like — which was definitely useful for today’s longer finds. This grid rewarded both careful planning and creative wordplay.

NYT Spelling Bee Answers: 21 September 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 answers may not include every single one. If you notice a word I’ve missed, drop it in the comments — you’ll help everyone else out.

Words you can make for today's NYT Spelling Bee Puzzle:

  • Fanatic
  • Rift
  • Craft
  • Traffic
  • Affricate
  • Fanfair
  • Frat
  • Fact
  • Rainfat
  • Caff
  • Fart

Pangram of the Day

Frantic – the perfect pangram for this puzzle. It not only uses all seven letters but also captures the feeling of racing to find those last few words before hitting Queen Bee status.

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

September 21’s Spelling Bee had just the right mix of playful and intense. Finding frantic was deeply satisfying — not only because it’s the pangram but because it perfectly matches the fast-paced, hunt-them-all nature of the game. Whether you hit Queen Bee or just enjoyed exploring, today’s puzzle was a rush.