# NYT Spelling Bee drives me crazy **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [December 17, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739 "2023-12-17T15:50:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 104
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2061 "2025-09-15T04:55:27Z")
Are you sure about that? My recollection is that LORRY was one of the first words I was surprised wasn’t allowed when I started playing the game about seven years ago. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2062 "2025-09-15T04:57:51Z")
You can look up any word’s Spelling Bee history here: [https://www.sbsolver.com/history](https://www.sbsolver.com/history) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2063 "2025-09-15T04:58:43Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Still no HOOPOE. Also, given the pangram, I’m surprising that HOPHEAD wasn’t allowed. > > Or POPTOP. I tried HOOPOE and POTTO, still no luck. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2064 "2025-09-15T16:49:31Z")
Another first word pangram and a day without clues, probably due to the -ed endings (pretty sure I’m not giving anything away there). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2065 "2025-09-15T18:08:45Z")
I’m (probably) one word plus its -ED away from QB. G came easily and I got a pangram first. I understand but I am disappointed that they didn’t allow DEATHWATCH. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2066 "2025-09-16T11:01:29Z")
Man, the FECULENCE of leaving out such a fine word. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2067 "2025-09-16T17:13:55Z")
Again with a first guess pangram today. I did need clues to get to Genius, though. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2068 "2025-09-16T17:38:25Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Man, the FECULENCE of leaving out such a fine word. Yeah, and I guess FLOCCULENCE was just too woolly. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2069 "2025-09-17T00:40:10Z")
I tried it though. Also, OCCULENCE, but I didn’t have any real hope for that one. Quick brag: I reached 1000 Pangrams today according the stats page! (Overall, I mean. Not all today. 😉) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2070 "2025-09-17T00:49:13Z")
Congrats. I, too, reached 1000 a few days ago. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2071 "2025-09-17T01:27:31Z")
1138 for me. Which is close to but not quite all the pangrams since they started keeping decent stats. I always get at least one pangram, but occasionally, I miss one when there are multiple. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2072 "2025-09-17T08:05:52Z")
No OUTCLINIC? It was my attempt at another first guess pangram. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2073 "2025-09-17T15:27:04Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > 1138 for me. My god! 🤯 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2074 "2025-09-17T17:23:17Z")
No first word pangram for me today. In fact, it took me quite awhile to find it. And I needed clues to finish the Genius level. Dunno why it was so difficult. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2075 "2025-09-17T19:46:59Z")
I’m finding it hard today. No pangram/s yet, 50 points to go. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2076 "2025-09-17T20:47:34Z")
So we have LUCUTION but not ILLOCUTION? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2077 "2025-09-17T21:02:09Z")
Well, no, because LUCUTION isn’t what you mean. Point taken, though, and at least 5 other cromulent words not in today’s Bee. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2078 "2025-09-17T21:08:54Z")
I guess the most obvious word here falls afoul of the obscenity rule… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2079 "2025-09-17T21:11:34Z")
And, like yesterday’s obscene word, is distracting. As for our British friends, they’re upset about a slur in yesterday’s puzzle that to me is just a slightly archaic word for “this moment.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2080 "2025-09-17T22:50:36Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I’m finding it hard today. No pangram/s yet, 50 points to go. Same here. For some reason, this collection of letters wasn’t as obvious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739.md?page=103) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739.md?page=105)