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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Feb 17, 2026 (Puzzle #21225)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Feb 17, 2026 (2026-02-17 · Puzzle #21225).

Hive overview

This hive centers on P with six outer letters. It has 52 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 288 available points before rank thresholds.

G
I
L
P
N
O
W
Show structure hint

This hive has 52 playable words worth about 288 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):

P
4 letters10
5 letters1
6 letters9
7+ letters15
Total35
G
4 letters2
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters1
Total4
I
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
L
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters2
7+ letters5
Total9
N
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters1
Total1
O
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters2
Total2
W
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters1
7+ letters–
Total1
Σ
4 letters14
5 letters2
6 letters12
7+ letters24
Total52

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 6 pts
  • Good: 14 pts
  • Solid: 23 pts
  • Nice: 43 pts
  • Great: 72 pts
  • Amazing: 115 pts
  • Genius: 202 pts
  • Queen Bee: 288 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):

  • GLOOP
    5
    5
    No
  • GLOP
    4
    1
    No
  • GLOPPING
    8
    8
    No
  • GOOP
    4
    1
    No
  • LIPO
    4
    1
    No
  • LIPPING
    7
    7
    No
  • LOLLIPOP
    8
    8
    No
  • LOLLOP
    6
    6
    No
  • LOLLOPING
    9
    9
    No
  • LOOP
    4
    1
    No
  • LOOPING
    7
    7
    No
  • LOPING
    6
    6
    No
  • LOPPING
    7
    7
    No
  • NIPPING
    7
    7
    No
  • OPINING
    7
    7
    No
  • OPINION
    7
    7
    No
  • PIGGING
    7
    7
    No
  • PILING
    6
    6
    No
  • PILL
    4
    1
    No
  • PILLING
    7
    7
    No
  • PILLION
    7
    7
    No
  • PILLOW
    6
    6
    No
  • PILLOWING
    9
    16
    Yes
  • PING
    4
    1
    No
  • PINGING
    7
    7
    No
  • PINING
    6
    6
    No
  • PINION
    6
    6
    No
  • PINIONING
    9
    9
    No
  • PINNING
    7
    7
    No
  • PIPING
    6
    6
    No
  • PIPPIN
    6
    6
    No
  • PLOP
    4
    1
    No
  • PLOPPING
    8
    8
    No
  • PLOW
    4
    1
    No
  • PLOWING
    7
    14
    Yes
  • POGO
    4
    1
    No
  • POGOING
    7
    7
    No
  • POLING
    6
    6
    No
  • POLIO
    5
    5
    No
  • POLL
    4
    1
    No
  • POLLING
    7
    7
    No
  • POLLIWOG
    8
    8
    No
  • POLO
    4
    1
    No
  • PONG
    4
    1
    No
  • POOL
    4
    1
    No
  • POOLING
    7
    7
    No
  • POOP
    4
    1
    No
  • POOPING
    7
    7
    No
  • POPLIN
    6
    6
    No
  • POPPING
    7
    7
    No
  • POWWOW
    6
    6
    No
  • WIPING
    6
    6
    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: Feb 16, 2026Open the stored hive from Feb 16, 2026 · Puzzle #21537.Next hive: Feb 18, 2026Open the next stored hive from Feb 18, 2026 · Puzzle #24415.