NYT Dictionary

DUNCH

/dʌnt͡ʃ/
VerbNounDUHNSHAdvanced/Professional

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

Meaning

To knock against; to hit, punch

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English dunchen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from the noun (see below); or of North Germanic origin, related to Old Swedish diunga (“to hit, knock”), dialectal Swedish dunka (“to beat”); or from Middle English dengen, from Old English denġan, denċġan (“to knock, ding”), from Proto-Germanic *dangijaną (“to bang, knock”). Compare English dinge.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

linnerlupperslow

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026.

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.