Spelling Bee Answers — August 21, 2026

    The full word list and pangrams for the NYT Spelling Bee from August 21, 2026.

    Daily brief

    Spelling bee #27728

    Friday, August 21, 2026

    ready

    Updated

    Today's hints

    Hive: center U; outer D, G, H, N, O, R

    Official totals
    Total Words
    23
    Pangram Count
    1
    Length histogram
    4
    10
    5
    6
    6
    4
    Other
    3
    Two-letter list
    RO
    2
    OTHER
    21
    Letter-by-length grid
    D
    4
    3
    H
    4
    2
    R
    5
    2
    U
    6
    2
    OTHER
    Total
    14
    Pangram shape
    Count
    1
    Starts With Center
    No
    1. Today's honeycomb centers on U and adds 6 surrounding letters.
    2. The word list totals 23, and 1 of them are pangrams.

    Difficulty: 2

    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

    Friday, August 21, 2026

    Today's Letters

    D
    G
    H
    U
    N
    O
    R

    Create words using letters from the hive. Words must:

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

    95Max Points
    23Words Found
    1Pangrams
    4.1Avg Points/Word

    The Spelling Bee pangram for Friday, August 21, 2026 was GROUNDHOG, out of 23 total words worth 95 points.

    Solution Details

    D (6)

    doughdourdrugdugongdungdunno

    G (4)

    gourdgroundgroundhogguru

    H (3)

    houndhourhung

    N (2)

    nounnunhood

    R (3)

    roughroundrung

    U (5)

    udonundoungroundunhoodunhung

    Yesterday's full result

    2026-08-20

    Center Letter
    T
    Outer Letters
    G, I, N, O, Q, U
    Words
    • Word
      QUOTING
      Scrabble Score
      17
      Wwf Score
      20
      Is Pangram
      Yes
    • Word
      GOUT
      Scrabble Score
      5
      Wwf Score
      7
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a painful inflammation of the big toe and foot caused by defects in uric acid metabolism resulting in deposits of the acid and its salts…
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      GUTTING
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      13
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      IGNITING
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      14
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      IGNITION
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      12
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the process of initiating combustion or catching fire
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INGOT
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INTO
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INTONING
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      13
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INTUIT
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      v
      Definition
      know or grasp by intuition or feeling
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INTUITING
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      14
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      INTUITION
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      12
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NOTING
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      10
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      NOTION
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      ONTO
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OUTGO
      Scrabble Score
      6
      Wwf Score
      8
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      money paid out; an amount spent
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OUTGOING
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      14
      Part Of Speech
      adj
      Definition
      leaving a place or a position
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OUTGUN
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      11
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OUTGUNNING
      Scrabble Score
      12
      Wwf Score
      19
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      OUTING
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      10
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a journey taken for pleasure
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      QUINT
      Scrabble Score
      14
      Wwf Score
      16
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      QUIT
      Scrabble Score
      13
      Wwf Score
      14
      Part Of Speech
      v
      Definition
      put an end to a state or an activity
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      QUITTING
      Scrabble Score
      18
      Wwf Score
      21
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TINGING
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      13
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TINNING
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      12
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the application of a thin layer of soft solder to the ends of wires before soldering them
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TINT
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TINTING
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      11
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the act of adding a tinge of color
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOGGING
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      14
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TONG
      Scrabble Score
      5
      Wwf Score
      7
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TONGING
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      13
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TONGUING
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      15
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TONING
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      10
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOON
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a film made by photographing a series of cartoon drawings to give the illusion of movement when projected in rapid sequence
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOOT
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      4
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a blast of a horn
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOOTING
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      10
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOTING
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      9
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOUT
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      5
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      someone who buys tickets to an event in order to resell them at a profit
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TOUTING
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      11
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TUGGING
      Scrabble Score
      10
      Wwf Score
      15
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TUITION
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      9
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      a fee paid for instruction (especially for higher education)
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TUNING
      Scrabble Score
      7
      Wwf Score
      11
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      (music) calibrating something (an instrument or electronic circuit) to a standard frequency
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TUTTI
      Scrabble Score
      5
      Wwf Score
      6
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TUTTING
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      11
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      TUTU
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      very short skirt worn by ballerinas
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      UNIT
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      UNITING
      Scrabble Score
      8
      Wwf Score
      12
      Part Of Speech
      n
      Definition
      the combination of two or more commercial companies
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      UNTO
      Scrabble Score
      4
      Wwf Score
      6
      Is Pangram
      No
    • Word
      UNTUNING
      Scrabble Score
      9
      Wwf Score
      15
      Is Pangram
      No
    Pangrams
    QUOTING

    Source verification

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

    Checked 2026-08-21T07:30:02.232Z

    Recent answers

    • 2026-08-20 — centerLetter: T · outerLetters: G, I, N, O, Q, U · totalWords: 47 · totalScore: 262 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Thursday
    • 2026-08-19 — centerLetter: V · outerLetters: E, L, N, O, P, R · totalWords: 41 · totalScore: 211 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Wednesday
    • 2026-08-18 — centerLetter: B · outerLetters: A, D, E, G, H, N · totalWords: 42 · totalScore: 228 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Tuesday
    • 2026-08-17 — centerLetter: O · outerLetters: D, G, I, P, R, Y · totalWords: 38 · totalScore: 115 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Monday
    • 2026-08-16 — centerLetter: C · outerLetters: B, D, E, L, O, U · totalWords: 52 · totalScore: 257 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Sunday
    • 2026-08-15 — centerLetter: O · outerLetters: A, C, D, H, I, R · totalWords: 51 · totalScore: 218 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Saturday
    • 2026-08-14 — centerLetter: M · outerLetters: A, D, G, I, N, T · totalWords: 62 · totalScore: 363 · pangramCount: 3 · weekday: Friday
    • 2026-08-13 — centerLetter: N · outerLetters: O, Y, A, C, H, L · totalWords: 39 · totalScore: 182 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Thursday
    • 2026-08-12 — centerLetter: T · outerLetters: E, G, H, I, W, Y · totalWords: 27 · totalScore: 116 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Wednesday
    • 2026-08-11 — centerLetter: N · outerLetters: A, E, L, M, T, Y · totalWords: 70 · totalScore: 350 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Tuesday
    • 2026-08-09 — centerLetter: H · outerLetters: A, C, E, L, O, T · totalWords: 77 · totalScore: 346 · pangramCount: 2 · weekday: Sunday
    • 2026-08-08 — centerLetter: M · outerLetters: E, I, L, T, U, V · totalWords: 31 · totalScore: 102 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Saturday
    • 2026-08-07 — centerLetter: G · outerLetters: D, E, I, N, P, X · totalWords: 50 · totalScore: 314 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Friday
    • 2026-08-06 — centerLetter: D · outerLetters: A, B, C, I, R, T · totalWords: 32 · totalScore: 140 · pangramCount: 1 · weekday: Thursday

    Archive statistics

    Averages By Weekday
    Thursday
    Average Words
    38.6
    Average Score
    188.2
    Wednesday
    Average Words
    41.2
    Average Score
    176.1
    Tuesday
    Average Words
    38.3
    Average Score
    176
    Monday
    Average Words
    43.2
    Average Score
    181.2
    Sunday
    Average Words
    50.3
    Average Score
    253.1
    Saturday
    Average Words
    50.6
    Average Score
    243.9
    Friday
    Average Words
    48.3
    Average Score
    219.1
    Center Vowel Share
    0.26
    Most Generous
    Date
    2026-08-09
    Center Letter
    H
    Outer Letters
    A, C, E, L, O, T
    Total Words
    77
    Total Score
    346
    Pangram Count
    2
    Weekday
    Sunday
    Least Generous
    Date
    2026-08-05
    Center Letter
    Y
    Outer Letters
    A, F, H, K, O, R
    Total Words
    17
    Total Score
    82
    Pangram Count
    1
    Weekday
    Wednesday
    Pangram Count Distribution
    1
    39
    2
    17
    3
    9

    How this brief was computed

    Hint classes: computed

    Generated lines used: 0

    Verification run: 20261007T011450Z

    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.