# 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:** 128
**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:** [January 27, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2541 "2026-01-27T18:56:14Z")
With today’s letters, I was trying to add un to various words I already found, and it seemed random which were accepted. > [@dtilque](#): > > Hmmm.. INGUINAL and LINGUAL are not accepted. Makes one wonder about Sam’s anatomy. And regarding this, lingual was not accepted but unilingual was. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2542 "2026-01-29T12:56:00Z")
Accepted THEOLOGY and TELEOLOGY, but not ETHOLOGY. Huh? ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2543 "2026-01-29T15:13:23Z")
Right? (also: OTOLOGY ) And that missing word is the kind people might try out even if they didn’t know it. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2544 "2026-01-29T17:51:38Z")
It’s there. Try again! ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2545 "2026-01-29T18:04:35Z")
I think “thole” is a common enough word, or at least it is in crossword puzzles, but apparently not here. It’s the receptacle for a boat’s oar, if you’re wondering. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2546 "2026-01-29T18:13:24Z")
Oh, I was saying it’s another accepted word in the same vein, sorry I wasn’t clear. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2547 "2026-01-29T18:14:36Z")
Ah, got it. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2548 "2026-01-30T03:12:44Z")
I was unable to guess FALLOFF on my own yesterday and had to resort to the clues. Even after looking at the clues, I had a hard time figuring it out. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2549 "2026-01-30T04:25:45Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > Even after looking at the clues, I had a hard time figuring it out. You weren’t the only one! ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2550 "2026-01-31T09:29:14Z")
Admit it. You tried AIRWOLF. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2026, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2551 "2026-02-01T07:33:04Z")
Two words I’d never heard of today: FOOFARAW, found by only 15%, and WALLAROO, found by only 25% For the first, all I can say is huh? and thank goodness for clues! For the second, I’m surprised because I’ve read at least 5 books about Australian fauna, so how did I never hear of it? I just looked through one of the books on Internet archive, _Two in the Bush_ by Gerald Durrell, and while “kangaroo” appears 22 times and “wallaby” 3 times, “wallaroo” does not appear. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2552 "2026-02-04T13:58:17Z")
WooHoo!! Got an unassisted Queen Bee today! Of course, this means that I have peaked before 9:00 in the morning. It’ll all be downhill from here. 🫤 ---
**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:** [February 4, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2553 "2026-02-04T15:06:16Z")
Woo hoo! Nicely done. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2554 "2026-02-04T15:16:17Z")
Yesterday (with the pangram being dramatic) I needed a hint to get tarmacadam (that’s a word?) but was surprised tartaric was not allowed. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2555 "2026-02-04T20:54:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > but was surprised tartaric was not allowed. Yeah, I’ve griped about that one before. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2556 "2026-02-04T21:10:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I needed a hint to get tarmacadam (that’s a word?) Certainly is. I got it without a hint. It’s the word that tarmac is a shortening of. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2557 "2026-02-04T21:12:02Z")
Thanks. That occurred to me later. I guess I never thought about the origin of the word tarmac. The game does seem to be improving my vocabulary. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2558 "2026-02-05T03:09:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Yesterday (with the pangram being dramatic) I needed a hint to get tarmacadam (that’s a word?) but was surprised tartaric was not allowed. Same here! And was anyone else surprised at the acceptance of RAMADA (a proper noun, surely?) For today, I’m disappointed at VILLEIN not allowed. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2559 "2026-02-05T03:15:39Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > And was anyone else surprised at the acceptance of RAMADA (a proper noun, surely?) I has a non-proper meaning: “roofed shelter with open sides.” Remember that next time you book a room at one of their hotels ---
**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:** [February 5, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/2560 "2026-02-05T04:18:13Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > And was anyone else surprised at the acceptance of RAMADA (a proper noun, surely?) I was farting around and tried it and was surprised that it took it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739.md?page=127) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739.md?page=129)