The classic NYT Spelling Bee game has given birth to many other exciting word-based puzzles over time. Even Merriam-Webster, the oldest dictionary publisher in the US, has launched the Blossom word game with a simple twist. It is now one of the most popular alternatives to NYT Spelling Bee and is enjoyed by many puzzle enthusiasts.
If you are new to this game and completely clueless about how to play Merriam-Webster’s Blossom word game, this guide is for you. We cover the Blossom game’s rules, gameplay mechanics, and the best tips and tricks to help you score the highest rank every time.
What are the Rules of the Blossom Word Game?
At first glance, the Blossom word game may look similar to the NYT Spelling Bee, and you may feel that it doesn’t have anything new to offer. However, as my colleague notes, Blossom sets itself apart by focusing on quality over quantity.
The Blossom word game includes a flower-shaped grid with seven letters. It features six letters, one in each petal, and a central letter that must be present in every word you create.
Unlike Spelling Bee, though, you don’t have to find as many words as possible using these 7 letters. Instead, you are required to create only 12 words and achieve the highest score in Blossom.
Now, the longer the word you create, the more points you are awarded. So, you have to be extremely careful with your submissions as you only have 12 guesses. This way, the Blossom word game raises the stakes, something you don’t have to worry about in Spelling Bee.
If this sounds challenging to you, here are all the Blossom rules you must learn to begin mastering the word game from Merriam-Webster:
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum Word Length | Only words with four or more letters can be submitted. |
| Central Letter Requirement | Every word must contain the center letter shown in the flower-shaped grid. |
| Letter Reuse Allowed | Any of the available letters can be repeated multiple times within a word. |
| Dictionary Restrictions | Similar to NYT Spelling Bee, which has its own dictionary, only words accepted by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary are valid. |
| Disallowed Words | Proper nouns, hyphenated words, abbreviations, slang, offensive terms, and other non-standard words are not accepted in Blossom. |
| Pangrams | Identical to the Pangrams in Spelling Bee, a pangram is a word that uses all seven letters at least once. Multiple pangrams may exist in a puzzle. |
| Pangram Bonus | Each pangram earns you a 7-point bonus in addition to the word’s normal score. |
How Are Points Calculated in the Blossom Word Game?
Since Blossom games revolve around finding a limited number of words, you need to understand the game’s scoring system first. The points are awarded based on word length, along with bonus points for the Pangram and the featured letter.
Once you learn the basics, you can then calculate how many points are awarded for each word and submit only the words that give the maximum points. So, here is how the Blossom word game’s scoring system works:
| Word Length | Points |
|---|---|
| 4 letters | 2 |
| 5 letters | 4 |
| 6 letters | 6 |
| 7 letters | 12 |
| 8 letters | 15 |
| 9 letters | 18 |
| 10 letters | 21 |
| Each additional letter | +3 |
Bonus Letters
If you closely observe the flower grid puzzle, you will see that a single petal is sometimes highlighted in yellow. The letter inside this petal is the bonus letter, and it keeps changing with each guess. It is not mandatory to use the bonus letter. However, if you can use the bonus letter in every word you form, you will earn an extra 5 points per use.
For example, A is the bonus letter in the puzzle below. If I create the word ‘ARTERIALLY,’ a total of 38 points will be awarded (21 points for entering a 10-letter word, +7 for pangram, +10 for using the bonus letter A twice).
Pangrams
Pangrams are words that have all seven letters present in the flower grid. So, every time you find a pangram, you will be granted +7 points in addition to the word’s usual score.
How to Get Good at the Blossom Word Game?
Getting good at the Blossom word game is directly tied to your vocabulary and pattern recognition skills. Thankfully, you can sharpen these skills by playing Blossom daily and familiarizing yourself with Merriam-Webster dictionary-approved words.
Aside from the general suggestions, here are some tips and tricks to secure the highest points in the Blossom word game :
- Look for the Pangrams first: We recommend hunting down the Pangrams first. It not only gives you a higher score but also bonus points. Since you need to submit the 12 highest-scoring words possible, finding the Pangrams first is the way to go.
- Use common prefixes and suffixes: Always remember that common prefixes like re-, un-, pre-, and suffixes like -ing, -ed, -er, and -est are your best friends. Turn a short word into a long one by adding the right prefix or suffix, which in turn gives you more points.
- Reuse Letters: Since there is no constraint on how many times you can repeat letters, you can reuse them as many times as you want to form long words.
- Only Submit Your Best Words: Don’t enter all the words that come to your mind as you do in Spelling Bee. Instead, note down all the words you came up with, and submit the 12 best and longest words to score the highest points.
- Hit the Shuffle Button: We recommend clicking shuffle whenever you are stuck. Sometimes, shuffling the puzzle gives you a fresh perspective and lets you see words that you couldn’t have before.
How to Play the Blossom Word Game for Free?
Fortunately, you don’t need any subscription to play the Blossom word game on Merriam-Webster’s Games website. You can play the game daily free of cost, unlike Spelling Bee, and also access older puzzles via the archive. Currently, you can play this word puzzle only on Merriam-Webster’s Games website. An app version of the game is not available on Android or iOS.
Since you are playing on a website for free, you are bound to see some advertisements as you play. There is currently no option to buy a subscription that offers you an ad-free experience if you find the ads annoying.
How to Win a Blossom Word Game?
The first thing you should know about Blossom is that the word game comes with no time limits or penalties. With patience, you can secure victory with the highest score possible. So, here are some extra strategies on how to win a Blossom word game:
- Avoid short words: If you have your mind set on achieving the highest ranks of the Blossom word game, then you need to avoid submitting short words with 4 or 5 letters. Since there are only 12 guesses, you need to be careful about the words you submit, and the longer words are valuable in general.
- Prioritize using bonus letter: The letter inside the petal outlined in yellow is a bonus letter. You can earn +5 points every time you use the specific bonus letter in each word. So, if you play your cards right and use the bonus letter as much as possible, you can easily double your score.
- Take a breather: There will be times when you will feel stuck while solving a Blossom word game. Unlike in Spelling Bee, you only need to find 12 words here. So, taking a short break can be refreshing and have you return to the word game with new vigor.
That’s all you need to know about how to play the new Blossom word game by Merriam-Webster. If you are planning to add Blossom to your daily routine, then bookmark our page to get the daily tips and answers.
Yes, Merriam-Webster’s Blossom word game is completely free to play, and even accessing the puzzle archive doesn’t require a subscription.
You can easily win a Blossom word game by finding 12 words. However, you need to submit the 12 longest words to score the highest points.
Yes, you can play the Blossom word game on Merriam-Webster’s website for free without any restrictions.
