Spelling Bee hints & answers: Jan 9, 2026 (Puzzle #21315)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Jan 9, 2026 (2026-01-09 · Puzzle #21315).

Hive overview

This hive centers on H with six outer letters. It has 37 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 174 available points before rank thresholds.

A
C
D
H
E
I
P
Show structure hint

This hive has 37 playable words worth about 174 points in total. Aim to unlock the pangram and a few long words early to get ahead of the ranking curve.

There is 1 pangram hidden in this hive.

Show word-count hints

Word count matrix (starting letter × length):

H
4 letters4
5 letters
6 letters4
7+ letters2
Total10
A
4 letters1
5 letters3
6 letters
7+ letters
Total4
C
4 letters6
5 letters5
6 letters3
7+ letters4
Total18
D
4 letters
5 letters1
6 letters
7+ letters2
Total3
E
4 letters1
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total1
I
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total0
P
4 letters
5 letters1
6 letters
7+ letters
Total1
Σ
4 letters12
5 letters10
6 letters7
7+ letters8
Total37

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 3 pts
  • Good: 9 pts
  • Solid: 14 pts
  • Nice: 26 pts
  • Great: 44 pts
  • Amazing: 70 pts
  • Genius: 122 pts
  • Queen Bee: 174 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):

  • ACHE
    4
    1
    No
  • ACHED
    5
    5
    No
  • AHEAD
    5
    5
    No
  • APHID
    5
    5
    No
  • CACHE
    5
    5
    No
  • CACHED
    6
    6
    No
  • CHAD
    4
    1
    No
  • CHAI
    4
    1
    No
  • CHAP
    4
    1
    No
  • CHAPPED
    7
    7
    No
  • CHEAP
    5
    5
    No
  • CHEAPIE
    7
    7
    No
  • CHEEP
    5
    5
    No
  • CHEEPED
    7
    7
    No
  • CHIA
    4
    1
    No
  • CHIC
    4
    1
    No
  • CHICA
    5
    5
    No
  • CHICHI
    6
    6
    No
  • CHIDE
    5
    5
    No
  • CHIDED
    6
    6
    No
  • CHIP
    4
    1
    No
  • CHIPPED
    7
    7
    No
  • DACHA
    5
    5
    No
  • DEADHEAD
    8
    8
    No
  • DEADHEADED
    10
    10
    No
  • EACH
    4
    1
    No
  • HEAD
    4
    1
    No
  • HEADACHE
    8
    8
    No
  • HEADED
    6
    6
    No
  • HEADPIECE
    9
    16
    Yes
  • HEAP
    4
    1
    No
  • HEAPED
    6
    6
    No
  • HEED
    4
    1
    No
  • HEEDED
    6
    6
    No
  • HIDE
    4
    1
    No
  • HIPPIE
    6
    6
    No
  • PEACH
    5
    5
    No

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