Spelling Bee hints & answers: Jan 23, 2026 (Puzzle #23003)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Jan 23, 2026 (2026-01-23 · Puzzle #23003).

Hive overview

This hive centers on K with six outer letters. It has 38 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 173 available points before rank thresholds.

B
C
D
K
E
L
O
Show structure hint

This hive has 38 playable words worth about 173 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):

K
4 letters2
5 letters
6 letters1
7+ letters
Total3
B
4 letters3
5 letters2
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total9
C
4 letters3
5 letters1
6 letters3
7+ letters5
Total12
D
4 letters3
5 letters1
6 letters3
7+ letters
Total7
E
4 letters1
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total1
L
4 letters3
5 letters
6 letters2
7+ letters1
Total6
O
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total0
Σ
4 letters15
5 letters4
6 letters11
7+ letters8
Total38

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 3 pts
  • Good: 9 pts
  • Solid: 14 pts
  • Nice: 26 pts
  • Great: 43 pts
  • Amazing: 69 pts
  • Genius: 121 pts
  • Queen Bee: 173 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):

  • BECK
    4
    1
    No
  • BEDECK
    6
    6
    No
  • BEDECKED
    8
    8
    No
  • BLOCK
    5
    5
    No
  • BLOCKED
    7
    14
    Yes
  • BLOKE
    5
    5
    No
  • BOCK
    4
    1
    No
  • BOOK
    4
    1
    No
  • BOOKED
    6
    6
    No
  • CELLBLOCK
    9
    9
    No
  • CLOCK
    5
    5
    No
  • CLOCKED
    7
    7
    No
  • COCK
    4
    1
    No
  • COCKED
    6
    6
    No
  • COCKLE
    6
    6
    No
  • COKE
    4
    1
    No
  • COLDCOCK
    8
    8
    No
  • COLDCOCKED
    10
    10
    No
  • COOK
    4
    1
    No
  • COOKBOOK
    8
    8
    No
  • COOKED
    6
    6
    No
  • DECK
    4
    1
    No
  • DECKED
    6
    6
    No
  • DECKLE
    6
    6
    No
  • DEKE
    4
    1
    No
  • DEKED
    5
    5
    No
  • DOCK
    4
    1
    No
  • DOCKED
    6
    6
    No
  • EKED
    4
    1
    No
  • KEEL
    4
    1
    No
  • KEELED
    6
    6
    No
  • KOOK
    4
    1
    No
  • LEEK
    4
    1
    No
  • LOCK
    4
    1
    No
  • LOCKED
    6
    6
    No
  • LOOK
    4
    1
    No
  • LOOKBOOK
    8
    8
    No
  • LOOKED
    6
    6
    No

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