NYT Dictionary

AMALGAM

/əˈmæl.ɡəm/
NounVerba-MAL-gama-mal-gam · 3 syllablesGrade 10

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

An alloy containing mercury.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

From Medieval Latin amalgama (“mercury alloy”), from Arabic اَلْمَلْغَم (al-malḡam, “emollient poultice or unguent for sores”), from Ancient Greek μάλαγμα (málagma, “emollient; malleable material”), from μαλάσσω (malássō, “to soften”), from μαλακός (malakós, “soft”). Doublet of malagma. For the verb, compare French amalgamer.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

alloyblendcombocompoundconglomeratemixtureadmixturealloyageamalgamationcombination

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

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