Spelling Bee Answers — July 16, 2026

    The full word list and pangrams for the NYT Spelling Bee from July 16, 2026.

    Daily brief

    Spelling bee #12570

    Thursday, July 16, 2026

    ready

    Updated

    Today's hints

    Hive: center D; outer A, C, I, R, T, Y

    Official totals
    Total Words
    37
    Pangram Count
    1
    Length histogram
    4
    12
    5
    14
    6
    4
    7
    4
    Other
    3
    Two-letter list
    OTHER
    37
    Letter-by-length grid
    OTHER
    Total
    37
    Pangram shape
    Count
    1
    Starts With Center
    No
    1. Build from a center D and 6 letters on the rim.
    2. The word list totals 37, and 1 of them are pangrams.

    Difficulty: 3

    This band is shown with every input used to compute it.

    • accepted-word total
    • length distribution
    • pangram count

    Spelling Bee Puzzle

    Edited by Sam Ezersky

    Thursday, July 16, 2026

    Today's Letters

    A
    C
    I
    D
    R
    T
    Y

    Create words using letters from the hive. Words must:

    • Be at least 4 letters long
    • Include the center letter D

    166Max Points
    37Words Found
    1Pangrams
    4.5Avg Points/Word

    The Spelling Bee pangram for Thursday, July 16, 2026 was ACRIDITY, out of 37 total words worth 166 points.

    Solution Details

    A (10)

    acidacidicacidityacidyacridacridityaddictarcadiaaridaridity

    C (4)

    caddycardcardiaccicada

    D (16)

    daddydairydartdatadiacriticdiarydictadidactdidacticdirtdirtydittydratdraydryaddyad

    R (3)

    radarradiiraid

    T (3)

    tardytidytriad

    Y (1)

    yard

    Yesterday's full result

    2026-07-15

    Center Letter
    O
    Outer Letters
    B, E, F, I, L, N
    Words
    • Word
      NONBELIEF
      Scrabble Score
      14
      Wwf Score
      18
      Is Pangram
      Yes
    • Word
      BILLION
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      13
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros; in the United Kingdom the usage followed in the United States is frequently…
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BLOB
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      11
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      an indistinct shapeless form
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOBBIN
      Scrabble Score
      12
      Wwf Score
      16
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOBBLE
      Scrabble Score
      12
      Wwf Score
      16
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the momentary juggling of a batted or thrown baseball
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOFFO
      Scrabble Score
      13
      Wwf Score
      14
      Part Of Speech
      adj
      Definition
      resoundingly successful and popular
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOIL
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a painful sore with a hard core filled with pus
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOLL
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOLO
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a cord fastened around the neck with an ornamental clasp and worn as a necktie
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BONBON
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      14
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a candy that usually has a center of fondant or fruit or nuts coated in chocolate
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BONE
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BONOBO
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      13
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      small chimpanzee of swamp forests in Zaire; a threatened species
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOOB
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      10
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      an ignorant or foolish person
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOOBOO
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      12
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      BOON
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a desirable state
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      EBON
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      adj
      Definition
      of a very dark black
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      ENNOBLE
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      13
      Part Of Speech
      v
      Definition
      confer dignity or honor upon
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      FELON
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      10
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      FLOE
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a flat mass of ice (smaller than an ice field) floating at sea
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      FOIBLE
      Scrabble Score
      11
      Wwf Score
      13
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      FOIL
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      FOLIO
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the system of numbering pages
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      FOOL
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a person who lacks good judgment
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INFO
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a message received and understood
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LEONINE
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      10
      Part Of Speech
      adj
      Definition
      of or characteristic of or resembling a lion
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LION
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LOBE
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the enhanced response of an antenna in a given direction as indicated by a loop in its radiation pattern
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LOBO
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LOIN
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a cut of meat taken from the side and back of an animal between the ribs and the rump
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LOLL
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      7
      Part Of Speech
      v
      Definition
      hang loosely or laxly
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LONE
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      adj
      Definition
      lacking companions or companionship
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LOON
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a worthless lazy fellow
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      LOONIE
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the basic unit of money in Canada
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NEON
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a colorless odorless gaseous element that gives a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NOBLE
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      10
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a titled peer of the realm
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NOEL
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NONE
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a canonical hour that is the ninth hour of the day counting from sunrise
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NONILLION
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      14
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NOOB
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NOON
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the middle of the day
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OBOE
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      7
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a slender double-reed instrument; a woodwind with a conical bore and a double-reed mouthpiece
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OFFLINE
      Scrabble Score
      13
      Wwf Score
      15
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OLEO
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OLIO
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OLLIE
      Scrabble Score
      5
      Wwf Score
      7
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      ONION
      Scrabble Score
      5
      Wwf Score
      7
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the bulb of an onion plant
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      ONLINE
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      adj
      Definition
      on a regular route of a railroad or bus or airline system
      Is Pangram
      No
    Pangrams
    NONBELIEF

    Source verification

    Sources
    1
    Agreement
    single
    Confidence
    confirmed
    • 1: verified (0 ms)

    Checked 2026-07-16T07:10:02.352Z

    Recent answers

    • 2026-07-15 — centerLetter: O · outerLetters: B, E, F, I, L, N · totalWords: 47 · totalScore: 158 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Wednesday
    • 2026-07-14 — centerLetter: T · outerLetters: C, I, L, O, R, V · totalWords: 36 · totalScore: 125 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Tuesday
    • 2026-07-13 — centerLetter: M · outerLetters: A, C, I, L, O, T · totalWords: 53 · totalScore: 194 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Monday
    • 2026-07-12 — centerLetter: K · outerLetters: A, E, G, I, N, W · totalWords: 33 · totalScore: 163 · pangramCount: 3 · weekday: Sunday
    • 2026-07-11 — centerLetter: T · outerLetters: A, I, L, N, P, U · totalWords: 62 · totalScore: 271 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Saturday
    • 2026-07-10 — centerLetter: E · outerLetters: B, F, L, O, T, U · totalWords: 54 · totalScore: 215 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Friday
    • 2026-07-09 — centerLetter: V · outerLetters: B, D, E, I, M, O · totalWords: 24 · totalScore: 128 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Thursday
    • 2026-07-08 — centerLetter: G · outerLetters: I, L, R, T, U, Y · totalWords: 21 · totalScore: 79 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Wednesday
    • 2026-07-07 — centerLetter: P · outerLetters: A, B, D, L, O, R · totalWords: 32 · totalScore: 119 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Tuesday
    • 2026-07-06 — centerLetter: C · outerLetters: A, E, H, L, N, V · totalWords: 37 · totalScore: 174 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Monday
    • 2026-07-05 — centerLetter: O · outerLetters: D, E, F, I, L, V · totalWords: 54 · totalScore: 232 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Sunday
    • 2026-07-04 — centerLetter: B · outerLetters: A, E, H, I, L, T · totalWords: 64 · totalScore: 303 · pangramCount: 3 · weekday: Saturday
    • 2026-07-02 — centerLetter: M · outerLetters: E, G, I, L, N, T · totalWords: 53 · totalScore: 258 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Thursday
    • 2026-07-01 — centerLetter: E · outerLetters: C, D, H, I, P, U · totalWords: 51 · totalScore: 224 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Wednesday

    Archive statistics

    Averages By Weekday
    Wednesday
    Average Words
    45
    Average Score
    184.6
    Tuesday
    Average Words
    32
    Average Score
    126.8
    Monday
    Average Words
    47.6
    Average Score
    207.4
    Sunday
    Average Words
    41.6
    Average Score
    214.4
    Saturday
    Average Words
    51.3
    Average Score
    242.5
    Friday
    Average Words
    43.5
    Average Score
    173.5
    Thursday
    Average Words
    38
    Average Score
    176.3
    Center Vowel Share
    0.23
    Most Generous
    Date
    2026-06-28
    Center Letter
    V
    Outer Letters
    D, E, G, I, L, N
    Total Words
    67
    Total Score
    397
    Pangram Count
    3
    Weekday
    Sunday
    Least Generous
    Date
    2026-07-08
    Center Letter
    G
    Outer Letters
    I, L, R, T, U, Y
    Total Words
    21
    Total Score
    79
    Pangram Count
    1
    Weekday
    Wednesday
    Pangram Count Distribution
    1
    18
    2
    6
    3
    6

    How this brief was computed

    Hint classes: computed

    Generated lines used: 0

    Verification run: 20261007T011443Z

    How It Works

    Spelling Bee requires making words using available letters, with each word containing the center letter. Our tool will help you discover all possible combinations.

    Rules of the Game

    • Words must have at least 4 letters
    • Words must include the center letter
    • Letters can be used more than once
    • The NYT word list excludes obscure, hyphenated, or proper nouns
    • 4-letter words are worth 1 point each
    • Longer words earn 1 point per letter
    • Pangrams (words that use all 7 letters) earn 7 extra points

    Scoring Ranks

    Beginner: 0 points
    Good Start: 2 points
    Moving Up: 5 points
    Good: 8 points
    Solid: 15 points
    Nice: 25 points
    Great: 40 points
    Amazing: 50 points
    Genius: 70 points
    Queen Bee: Find all words!

    Our tool analyzes the daily puzzle and finds all valid words, helping you achieve "Genius" status and maybe even reach "Queen Bee" by finding all possible words!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a pangram in Spelling Bee?

    A pangram is a word that uses all 7 letters from the honeycomb at least once. Pangrams are worth 7 bonus points on top of their regular letter points. Finding all pangrams is key to reaching Genius and Queen Bee levels.

    How many points do I need to reach Genius in Spelling Bee?

    Genius rank requires earning approximately 70% of the maximum possible points for that day's puzzle. The exact point threshold varies daily based on how many words and pangrams are available.

    What is Queen Bee rank in Spelling Bee?

    Queen Bee is the highest rank in Spelling Bee, achieved only by finding every single valid word in the puzzle. It's the ultimate challenge and requires discovering all words, including obscure ones.

    Spelling Bee strategy & tips

    Hunt the pangram first

    Every Spelling Bee has at least one pangram — a word that uses all seven letters — and it’s worth a 7-point bonus on top of its length score. Finding it early is the biggest single swing in your score and often reveals the “shape” of the day’s vocabulary.

    To find it, list the seven letters and look for likely combinations: a pangram almost always needs the center letter plus every outer letter, so scan for common roots that can absorb all of them (think “-ING,” “-TION,” or a compound).

    Mine prefixes and suffixes

    Most of your word count comes from systematically extending stems. Once you find a valid base word, try every legal affix:

    • Suffixes: -ING, -ED, -ER, -EST, -LY, -TION, -MENT, -NESS (only if the needed letters are present).
    • Prefixes: RE-, UN-, DE-, OUT-, OVER- when those letters are in the set.
    • Plurals and verb forms: if S is available, most nouns and verbs double your entries.

    Working stem-by-stem instead of guessing randomly is how players clear the higher ranks — our Spelling Bee tips guide walks through the full stem-mining routine.

    The ranks, and what “Genius” really takes

    Spelling Bee scores you up a ladder — Beginner, Good Start, Moving Up, Good, Solid, Nice, Great, Amazing, Genius — with Queen Bee reserved for finding every single word. Genius is about 70% of the total possible points, so you do not need every word to hit it; you need the long words and the pangram.

    Prioritize length: a 7- or 8-letter word is worth far more than several 4-letter words, so when you’re close to a rank, reach for longer entries.

    Rules that trip people up

    • Every word must include the center letter — no exceptions.
    • Words must be at least four letters; three-letter words don’t count.
    • Letters can be reused as many times as you like (e.g. if the set allows it, “LEVEL” or “MAMMA”-style repetition is fine).
    • No proper nouns, hyphenated words, or obscure/offensive entries — the dictionary is curated.

    Words people consistently miss

    The Bee loves slightly old-fashioned or less-common-but-valid words — things like NatterING, words with unusual letter doublings, and short interjections. If you’re a few words short of a rank, try less obvious vowel combinations and uncommon four-letter words before assuming you’ve found everything — or check your blind spots with our Spelling Bee solver.

    A fresh Spelling Bee is released daily; the letters and pangram change each day, so the skill is the search method, not memorization. Past puzzles live in the Spelling Bee archive if you want extra practice.