Spelling Bee hints & answers: Feb 8, 2026 (Puzzle #21397)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Feb 8, 2026 (2026-02-08 · Puzzle #21397).

Hive overview

This hive centers on I with six outer letters. It has 60 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 284 available points before rank thresholds.

B
E
L
I
N
T
U
Show structure hint

This hive has 60 playable words worth about 284 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 letters3
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total7
B
4 letters4
5 letters4
6 letters2
7+ letters4
Total14
E
4 letters
5 letters2
6 letters
7+ letters2
Total4
L
4 letters6
5 letters2
6 letters4
7+ letters2
Total14
N
4 letters2
5 letters
6 letters3
7+ letters1
Total6
T
4 letters5
5 letters2
6 letters1
7+ letters
Total8
U
4 letters1
5 letters5
6 letters
7+ letters1
Total7
Σ
4 letters18
5 letters18
6 letters12
7+ letters12
Total60

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 6 pts
  • Good: 14 pts
  • Solid: 23 pts
  • Nice: 43 pts
  • Great: 71 pts
  • Amazing: 114 pts
  • Genius: 199 pts
  • Queen Bee: 284 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
  • BELITTLE
    8
    8
    No
  • BELTLINE
    8
    8
    No
  • BIBLE
    5
    5
    No
  • BILE
    4
    1
    No
  • BILL
    4
    1
    No
  • BILLET
    6
    6
    No
  • BITE
    4
    1
    No
  • BITTEN
    6
    6
    No
  • BLIN
    4
    1
    No
  • BLINI
    5
    5
    No
  • BUILT
    5
    5
    No
  • BULLETIN
    8
    15
    Yes
  • EBULLIENT
    9
    16
    Yes
  • ELITE
    5
    5
    No
  • ENNUI
    5
    5
    No
  • ENTITLE
    7
    7
    No
  • INBUILT
    7
    7
    No
  • INLET
    5
    5
    No
  • INNIE
    5
    5
    No
  • INTEL
    5
    5
    No
  • INTENT
    6
    6
    No
  • INTUIT
    6
    6
    No
  • INUTILE
    7
    7
    No
  • LENIENT
    7
    7
    No
  • LENTIL
    6
    6
    No
  • LIBEL
    5
    5
    No
  • LIBELEE
    7
    7
    No
  • LIEN
    4
    1
    No
  • LIEU
    4
    1
    No
  • LILT
    4
    1
    No
  • LINE
    4
    1
    No
  • LINEN
    5
    5
    No
  • LINNET
    6
    6
    No
  • LINT
    4
    1
    No
  • LINTEL
    6
    6
    No
  • LITE
    4
    1
    No
  • LITTLE
    6
    6
    No
  • NIBBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • NINE
    4
    1
    No
  • NINETEEN
    8
    8
    No
  • NITE
    4
    1
    No
  • NUBBIN
    6
    6
    No
  • NUBILE
    6
    6
    No
  • TILE
    4
    1
    No
  • TILL
    4
    1
    No
  • TILT
    4
    1
    No
  • TINE
    4
    1
    No
  • TINT
    4
    1
    No
  • TITLE
    5
    5
    No
  • TITTLE
    6
    6
    No
  • TUTTI
    5
    5
    No
  • UNBUILT
    7
    7
    No
  • UNIT
    4
    1
    No
  • UNITE
    5
    5
    No
  • UNLIT
    5
    5
    No
  • UNTIE
    5
    5
    No
  • UNTIL
    5
    5
    No
  • UTILE
    5
    5
    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.

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.