NYT Dictionary

VARIOLA

/ˈvəraɪələ/

NounVA-ri-o-lava-ri-o-la · 4 syllablesAdvanced/Professional

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2025

Meaning

Smallpox (Orthopoxvirus variola).

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English variolas pl (“pustules, pocks”), from Medieval Latin or Medical Latin variola (“infectious disease causing pustules; pox”), from Latin varius. Doublet of variole.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

smallpoxagueanthraxcholeradiphtheriadysenteryflugrippehepatitisherpes

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.