# 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:** 159
**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 5, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3161 "2026-09-05T16:18:58Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The root word would be MAGIC (verb). The K is inserted when adding a suffix beginning with an E, I, or Y but the pronunciation of the final C is not changed. No one here is unaware of this. The point was it’s not in the M-W dictionary, hence a reason why it’s not included in the Spelling Bee. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3162 "2026-09-05T16:27:50Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > The point was it’s not in the M-W dictionary, hence a reason why it’s not included in the Spelling Bee. Someone pointed out way upthread that there’s no single dictionary that’s the basis of the wordlist for this game. ---
**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 5, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3163 "2026-09-05T16:38:46Z")
That is true, plus plenty of other words that are in Merriam-Webster aren’t allowed for the puzzle. BTW, when I get down to the last few words for which I need a hint, I will sometimes check the Spelling Bee Buddy page. I was pleased to see that the two words I was stuck on today (manikin and manakin) were the least often found words. So at least it’s not just me. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3164 "2026-09-06T00:42:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, when I get down to the last few words for which I need a hint, I will sometimes check the Spelling Bee Buddy page. I was pleased to see that the two words I was stuck on today (manikin and manakin) were the least often found words. So at least it’s not just me. It’s the first ever appearance for both words, so today I learned that a MANIKIN is a dummy and a MANAKIN is a bird. I managed (maniged?) to get neither. ---
**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 7, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3165 "2026-09-07T04:53:52Z")
I was disappointed that BENDED wasn’t accepted today, as in on bended knee. OTOH that would have made for a total of 69 words, 52 of them starting with B ---
**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 7, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3166 "2026-09-07T15:40:38Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > I was disappointed that BENDED wasn’t accepted today, Yeah, I try that one every time just in case. ---
**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 7, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3167 "2026-09-07T16:45:43Z")
Same. Could not get DEPECHE out of my head today. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3168 "2026-09-09T05:25:03Z")
I couldn’t get FELICITATE out of my head today. It isn’t accepted, but it’s kind of close to another word that is. ---
**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 9, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3169 "2026-09-09T13:39:11Z")
Has there ever been a lower-scoring puzzle than today’s: 42 to Genius and 60 to QB? ---
**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 9, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3170 "2026-09-09T13:45:02Z")
The lowest point total was 47 points and 16 words on March 27, 2023 and about six or seven below today’s 60 point total. ---
**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 10, 2026, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3171 "2026-09-10T03:18:40Z")
Still won’t take “pruno”. ---
**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 11, 2026, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3172 "2026-09-11T10:59:19Z")
You knew it wouldn’t be there, but DICKHEAD was certainly worth trying. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2026, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3173 "2026-09-11T11:12:49Z")
It was my first try ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2026, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3174 "2026-09-11T11:55:17Z")
I went through today’s SB relatively quickly, but then I got stuck with only the pangram remaining. I was rightfully pissed at myself when I finally figured it out. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3175 "2026-09-11T11:58:13Z")
Pretty much the same here. DICKHEAD had me thinking in the wrong direction. My last word was KIDDIE. ---
**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 11, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3176 "2026-09-11T13:44:22Z")
I think Sam’s just fucking with us. (Got to Genius, but still haven’t gotten the pangram yet.) ETA: and as soon as I posted that, I figured it out. ---
**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 11, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3177 "2026-09-11T13:45:45Z")
I also got to Genius without the pangram, and then finally got it. I oughta push for QB now… ---
**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 11, 2026, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3178 "2026-09-11T13:55:17Z")
No sooner did I post that, then I got QB! ---
**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 11, 2026, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3179 "2026-09-11T13:55:52Z")
When I saw that my last word started with KH, I thought, Here’s another of Sam’s obscure cuisine words. But no, it turned out so be something I knew quite well. In fact, I am wearing it right now. ---
**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 11, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739/3180 "2026-09-11T14:11:31Z")
I’m very disappointed in myself for not thinking of dickhead. I can only blame lack of coffee. I would have thought dickie would be allowed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739.md?page=158) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-spelling-bee-drives-me-crazy/994739.md?page=160)