NYT Dictionary

ANACONDA

/ˌænəˈkɑndə/
Nounan-a-CON-daan-a-con-da · 4 syllablesGrade 5

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

Meaning

Any large nonvenomous snake of the genus Eunectes, found mainly in northern South America.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

From New Latin anacandaia (“python”), originally referring to a species of constrictor found in Sri Lanka, from Sinhalese හෙනකඳයා (henakaⁿdayā, “whip snake”), from හෙණ (heṇa, “lightning, thunderbolt”) + කඳ (kaⁿda, “stem, trunk, body”) or from Tamil ஆனைக்கொன்றான் (āṉaikkoṉṟāṉ, “having killed an elephant”), from ஆனை (āṉai, “elephant”) + கொன்றான் (koṉṟāṉ, “having killed”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

pass the trashsnake

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

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