Today’s New York Times Spelling Bee puzzle brought a sweet surprise. With A as the center letter and L, N, B, E, J, Y as the outer letters, every word had to include A. At first glance, the set seemed a little tricky, but it turned out to be one of the more fun puzzles in recent memory — especially when the pangram turned out to be JELLYBEAN.

Step 1: Starting with Easy Wins

I began by focusing on the smallest possible words. With A required, words like ban, lab, nab, and yen popped up almost immediately. These three-letter foundations are always essential for warming up and getting into the flow.

Step 2: Playing with Common Patterns

From there, I tested clusters like bal-, bel-, and lay-. This quickly unlocked words such as bale, ball, belly, and lane. Adding “y” gave me more options: any, nay, and lay.

Already the puzzle felt satisfying, but I knew the pangram was waiting to be discovered.

Step 3: Discovering the Pangram – JELLYBEAN

The “aha!” moment came when I spotted JELLYBEAN. Using all seven letters, this playful and colorful word instantly transported me back to candy jars and childhood treats. As the pangram, it was not only complete but also one of the more delightful solutions we’ve had in recent puzzles.

Step 4: Expanding the List

Once JELLYBEAN was solved, the rest of the puzzle unfolded naturally. I cycled through each starting letter systematically, uncovering combinations like banal, belly, jane, and nyala (a type of antelope). This methodical approach ensured no stone was left unturned.

Full Word List (September 5, 2025)

Here are the words I found for today’s grid. Remember, every one of them includes the letter A:

• Pangram: JELLYBEAN

Other words include:

4-letter words:

• Able
• Bale
• Ball
• Blab
• Bean
• Jane
• Lane
• Lean
• Yell
• Ably
• Naan
• Nana

• Allay
• Alley
• Banal
• Banjo
• Belly
• Blame
• Navel
• Nyala
• Nanny
• Label
• Belay
• Babel

• Allele
• Anally
• Anneal
• Baleen
• Banana
• Banyan
• Blabby
• Enable
• Leanly

• Banally
• Eyeball

• Jellybean (pangram)
• Beanball

(The NYT word list may vary, but these are the most common valid entries.)

Reflections on Today’s Puzzle

What stood out about this puzzle was the theme. Having JELLYBEAN as the pangram gave the solve a whimsical, sweet flavor. It also showcased how even ordinary-looking letter sets can hide charming surprises.

The puzzle also balanced well between easy-to-spot fillers (ban, ball, lay) and trickier or more unusual words (banal, nyala). That range kept it engaging for solvers of all levels.

Wrapping Up Today’s Hive

If you managed to land on JELLYBEAN, congratulations — you hit the puzzle’s sweetest spot. Even if you didn’t, the smaller words offered a rich vocabulary workout and plenty of practice.

Spelling Bee continues to be more than just a game; it’s a daily reminder of the joy of words, patterns, and discovery. And today, the joy came in the form of a colorful, sugary pangram: JELLYBEAN.

Did you spot JELLYBEAN right away, or did it sneak up on you after solving the smaller words? Share your solving story below!