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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Jan 3, 2026 (Puzzle #9164)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Jan 3, 2026 (2026-01-03 · Puzzle #9164).

Hive overview

This hive centers on C with six outer letters. It has 43 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 207 available points before rank thresholds.

I
L
N
C
O
R
U
Show structure hint

This hive has 43 playable words worth about 207 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):

C
4 letters8
5 letters9
6 letters3
7+ letters3
Total23
I
4 letters1
5 letters2
6 letters2
7+ letters–
Total5
L
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total2
N
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters1
7+ letters–
Total1
O
4 letters–
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total2
R
4 letters–
5 letters2
6 letters1
7+ letters–
Total3
U
4 letters1
5 letters–
6 letters3
7+ letters3
Total7
Σ
4 letters12
5 letters15
6 letters10
7+ letters6
Total43

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 4 pts
  • Good: 10 pts
  • Solid: 17 pts
  • Nice: 31 pts
  • Great: 52 pts
  • Amazing: 83 pts
  • Genius: 145 pts
  • Queen Bee: 207 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):

  • CIRRI
    5
    5
    No
  • CLINIC
    6
    6
    No
  • COCCI
    5
    5
    No
  • COCOON
    6
    6
    No
  • COIL
    4
    1
    No
  • COIN
    4
    1
    No
  • COIR
    4
    1
    No
  • COLIC
    5
    5
    No
  • COLON
    5
    5
    No
  • COLONIC
    7
    7
    No
  • COLOR
    5
    5
    No
  • CONCUR
    6
    6
    No
  • CONIC
    5
    5
    No
  • COOL
    4
    1
    No
  • CORN
    4
    1
    No
  • COUNCIL
    7
    7
    No
  • COUNCILOR
    9
    16
    Yes
  • CROC
    4
    1
    No
  • CROCI
    5
    5
    No
  • CROON
    5
    5
    No
  • CULL
    4
    1
    No
  • CURIO
    5
    5
    No
  • CURL
    4
    1
    No
  • ICON
    4
    1
    No
  • ICONIC
    6
    6
    No
  • INCUR
    5
    5
    No
  • IONIC
    5
    5
    No
  • IRONIC
    6
    6
    No
  • LOCI
    4
    1
    No
  • LOCO
    4
    1
    No
  • NUNCIO
    6
    6
    No
  • OCCUR
    5
    5
    No
  • OCULI
    5
    5
    No
  • RICIN
    5
    5
    No
  • ROCOCO
    6
    6
    No
  • RUNIC
    5
    5
    No
  • UNCOIL
    6
    6
    No
  • UNCOOL
    6
    6
    No
  • UNCURL
    6
    6
    No
  • UNICOLOR
    8
    15
    Yes
  • UNICORN
    7
    7
    No
  • UNIRONIC
    8
    8
    No
  • URIC
    4
    1
    No

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.

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Today's hintsSee hive structure, rank cues, and spoiler-layered help.Spelling Bee archiveJump to stored hives by NYT print date.Previous hive: Jan 2, 2026Open the stored hive from Jan 2, 2026 · Puzzle #25580.Next hive: Jan 4, 2026Open the next stored hive from Jan 4, 2026 · Puzzle #21524.