Why Are ANNAL and ANNEAL Both Valid in NYT Spelling Bee?

Quick comparison

ANNAL

Part of speech Noun

Meaning A record of events for a single year

Pronunciation AN-uhl

ANNEAL

Part of speech Verb

Meaning To heat and cool metal or glass in a controlled way

Pronunciation uh-NEEL

ANNUAL

Part of speech Adjective or noun

Meaning Yearly, or something published each year

Spelling Bee status Not possible in this puzzle because there is no U

What does ANNAL mean?

ANNAL is a noun.

It means a record of events for a particular year.

The plural form ANNALS is much more common in modern English, which is why the singular ANNAL can look unfamiliar.

What does ANNEAL mean?

ANNEAL is a verb used especially in engineering and materials work.

Cambridge Dictionary defines it as making metal or glass softer by heating it and then cooling it slowly.

The process can change hardness, internal stress or other material properties depending on the material and treatment.

ANNAL vs. ANNEAL

The words are not alternate spellings.

ANNAL is a noun connected with historical records.

ANNEAL is a verb connected with heat treatment.

They also sound different:

ANNAL AN-uhl

ANNEAL uh-NEEL

ANNAL vs. ANNUAL

ANNAL and ANNUAL are also different words.

ANNAL A record of events for one year

ANNUAL Yearly, or something that happens once a year

The September 21 Spelling Bee does not include U, so ANNUAL cannot be built from the day’s letters.

Why are ANNAL and ANNEAL both accepted?

The September 21, 2026 Spelling Bee uses A, B, E, J, L, N and Y, with N as the required center letter.

ANNAL uses only allowed letters and includes N.

ANNEAL also uses only allowed letters and includes N.

Repeated letters are allowed.

That makes both words valid answers.

How to remember the difference

ANNAL records a year.

ANNEAL treats a material.

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