Spelling Bee hints & answers: Dec 18, 2025 (Puzzle #23058)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Dec 18, 2025 (2025-12-18 · Puzzle #23058).

Hive overview

This hive centers on I with six outer letters. It has 34 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 148 available points before rank thresholds.

B
E
F
I
L
N
U
Show structure hint

This hive has 34 playable words worth about 148 points in total. Aim to unlock the pangram and a few long words early to get ahead of the ranking curve.

There are 2 pangrams hidden in this hive.

Show word-count hints

Word count matrix (starting letter × length):

I
4 letters
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters
Total2
B
4 letters4
5 letters3
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total10
E
4 letters
5 letters2
6 letters
7+ letters
Total2
F
4 letters5
5 letters
6 letters1
7+ letters1
Total7
L
4 letters4
5 letters2
6 letters
7+ letters2
Total8
N
4 letters1
5 letters
6 letters3
7+ letters
Total4
U
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters1
Total1
Σ
4 letters14
5 letters8
6 letters6
7+ letters6
Total34

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 3 pts
  • Good: 7 pts
  • Solid: 12 pts
  • Nice: 22 pts
  • Great: 37 pts
  • Amazing: 59 pts
  • Genius: 104 pts
  • Queen Bee: 148 pts

Check your current score in the NYT game to see how close you are to each rank.

Reveal full answer list (spoiler)

Full answer list for today's hive (alphabetical):

  • BEELINE
    7
    7
    No
  • BELIE
    5
    5
    No
  • BELIEF
    6
    6
    No
  • BIBLE
    5
    5
    No
  • BIFF
    4
    1
    No
  • BILE
    4
    1
    No
  • BILL
    4
    1
    No
  • BLIN
    4
    1
    No
  • BLINI
    5
    5
    No
  • BLUEFIN
    7
    14
    Yes
  • ELFIN
    5
    5
    No
  • ENNUI
    5
    5
    No
  • FELINE
    6
    6
    No
  • FIEF
    4
    1
    No
  • FIFE
    4
    1
    No
  • FILE
    4
    1
    No
  • FILL
    4
    1
    No
  • FINE
    4
    1
    No
  • FULFILL
    7
    7
    No
  • INFILL
    6
    6
    No
  • INNIE
    5
    5
    No
  • LIBEL
    5
    5
    No
  • LIBELEE
    7
    7
    No
  • LIEN
    4
    1
    No
  • LIEU
    4
    1
    No
  • LIFE
    4
    1
    No
  • LIFELINE
    8
    8
    No
  • LINE
    4
    1
    No
  • LINEN
    5
    5
    No
  • NIBBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • NINE
    4
    1
    No
  • NUBBIN
    6
    6
    No
  • NUBILE
    6
    6
    No
  • UNBELIEF
    8
    15
    Yes

Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head back to Today's Spelling Bee hints, browse the Spelling Bee archive, or use the word finder and pangram helper.

Move between Spelling Bee dates

Jump back to today, open the archive, or step to the next stored hive when a nearby date is available.