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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Mar 16, 2026 (Puzzle #10707)

This page shows spoiler-layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Mar 16, 2026 (2026-03-16 · Puzzle #10707).

Hive overview

This hive centers on N with six outer letters. It has 38 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 225 available points before rank thresholds.

C
E
G
N
I
L
X
Show structure hint

This hive has 38 playable words worth about 225 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):

N
4 letters3
5 letters1
6 letters2
7+ letters3
Total9
C
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total4
E
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters2
7+ letters3
Total5
G
4 letters2
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters5
Total9
I
4 letters–
5 letters2
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total5
L
4 letters2
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total6
X
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Σ
4 letters7
5 letters7
6 letters7
7+ letters17
Total38

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 5 pts
  • Good: 11 pts
  • Solid: 18 pts
  • Nice: 34 pts
  • Great: 56 pts
  • Amazing: 90 pts
  • Genius: 158 pts
  • Queen Bee: 225 pts

Check your current score in the NYT game to see how close you are to each rank.

Show two-letter and length counts

Counts use the available unique accepted answers; they do not add dictionary guesses.

By length: 4 letters: 7 · 5 letters: 7 · 6 letters: 7 · 7 letters: 8 · 8 letters: 5 · 9 letters: 2 · 10 letters: 2

By first two letters: CE: 1 · CL: 3 · EG: 1 · EN: 1 · EX: 3 · GE: 4 · GI: 4 · GL: 1 · IC: 1 · IN: 4 · LE: 2 · LI: 4 · NE: 3 · NI: 6

Pangram 1

Show length and score

9 letters; worth 16 points. Some hive letters appear more than once.

Show letter pattern

The pangram starts with E and ends with G: E•••••••G.

Reveal this pangram

EXCELLING

Show score and letter coverage

EXCELLING: 9 letter points + 7 pangram bonus = 16 points. Uses all seven letters: C, E, G, I, L, N, X.

Reveal full answer list (spoiler)

Full answer list for this hive (alphabetical):

  • CEILING
    7
    7
    No
  • CLING
    5
    5
    No
  • CLINGING
    8
    8
    No
  • CLINIC
    6
    6
    No
  • EGGING
    6
    6
    No
  • ENGINE
    6
    6
    No
  • EXCELLENCE
    10
    10
    No
  • EXCELLING
    9
    16
    Yes
  • EXILING
    7
    7
    No
  • GELLING
    7
    7
    No
  • GENE
    4
    1
    No
  • GENIE
    5
    5
    No
  • GENII
    5
    5
    No
  • GIGGING
    7
    7
    No
  • GIGGLING
    8
    8
    No
  • GILLING
    7
    7
    No
  • GINNING
    7
    7
    No
  • GLEN
    4
    1
    No
  • ICING
    5
    5
    No
  • INCLINE
    7
    7
    No
  • INCLINING
    9
    9
    No
  • INNIE
    5
    5
    No
  • INNING
    6
    6
    No
  • LEGGING
    7
    7
    No
  • LENIENCE
    8
    8
    No
  • LIEN
    4
    1
    No
  • LINE
    4
    1
    No
  • LINEN
    5
    5
    No
  • LINING
    6
    6
    No
  • NEGLIGEE
    8
    8
    No
  • NEGLIGENCE
    10
    10
    No
  • NENE
    4
    1
    No
  • NICE
    4
    1
    No
  • NIECE
    5
    5
    No
  • NIGGLE
    6
    6
    No
  • NIGGLING
    8
    8
    No
  • NINE
    4
    1
    No
  • NIXING
    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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Jump back to today, open the archive, or step to the next stored hive when a nearby date is available.

Today's hintsSee hive structure, rank cues, and spoiler-layered help.Spelling Bee archiveJump to stored hives by NYT print date.Previous hive: Mar 15, 2026Open the stored hive from Mar 15, 2026 · Puzzle #22288.Next hive: Mar 17, 2026Open the stored hive from Mar 17, 2026 · Puzzle #16458.