May 18, 2025

NYT Spelling Bee Answers — May 18, 2025

Margaret Chen Verified

Senior Editor · Spelling Bee solver since 2018

Below you will find every answer to the New York Times Spelling Bee for May 18, 2025 (Sunday). The honeycomb shows the seven letters; the pangram is highlighted in yellow.

Words48
Max Points273
Pangrams3
Genius191

4 letter answers 14 words

FAILFALLFANGFAUNFILLFLAGFLANFUGUFULLGAFFGUFFGULFLUFFNAIF

5 letter answers 7 words

FAUNAFINALFLAILFLINGFLUFFFLUNGFUNGI

6 letter answers 8 words

FAUNALFIFINGFILIALFILINGFINIALFININGFUNGALINFILL

7 letter answers 8 words

ALFALFAFAILINGFALLINGFANNINGFILLINGFULFILLGAINFULLUNGFUL

8 letter answers 5 words

FLAGGINGFLAILINGFLANGINGFLINGINGFLUFFING

9 letter answers 3 words

FINAGLINGINFILLINGUNFAILING

10 letter answers 2 words

FULFILLINGUNFLAGGING

12 letter answers 1 word

UNFULFILLING

Common questions

How many answers in the May 18, 2025 Spelling Bee?

48 valid answers worth 273 points, including 3 pangrams. Genius requires 191 points.

What is the pangram?

The pangrams are GAINFUL, UNFAILING, UNFLAGGING. Pangrams use all seven letters and earn 7 bonus points.

What is the center letter?

The required center letter is F. Every valid answer must contain this letter.

How does scoring work?

4-letter words: 1 point. Longer words: 1 point per letter. Pangrams: +7 bonus. Genius is 70% of the maximum.