NYT Dictionary

EASY

/ˈiːzi/
AdjectiveAdverbNounVerbInterjectionEA-syea-sy · 2 syllablesGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2026

Meaning

Comfortable; at ease.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English esy, eesy, partly from Middle English ese (“ease”) + -y, equivalent to ease + -y, and partly from Anglo-Norman eisé from Old French aisié (“eased, at ease, at leisure”), past participle of aisier (“to put at ease”), from aise (“empty space, elbow room, opportunity”), of uncertain origin. See ease. Merged with Middle English ethe, eathe (“easy”), from Old English īeþe, from Proto-Germanic *auþuz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwtus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- (“to enjoy, consume”). Compare also Old Saxon ōþi, Old High German ōdi, Old Norse auðr, auð-, Icelandic auð (adverb), auð-, all meaning "easy." More at ease, eath.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

relaxedrelaxingsofttrivialfacilefastlighteatheasy-oaras a duck takes to water

Antonyms

uneasyanxiousdifficultharduneathchallengingcomplexesoterictoughtricky

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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