NYT Dictionary
MACULATE
/ˈmækjʊleɪt/VerbAdjectiveMAC-u-latemac-u-late · 3 syllablesGrade 8
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2025
Meaning
To spot; to stain; to blur.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
First attested during the last quarter of the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English maculaten (“to spoil, polute”), borrowed from Latin maculātus, perfect passive participle of maculō (“to spot”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Synonyms & Antonyms
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 2025.