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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Mar 17, 2026 (Puzzle #16458)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Mar 17, 2026 (2026-03-17 · Puzzle #16458).

Hive overview

This hive centers on F with six outer letters. It has 50 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 215 available points before rank thresholds.

B
D
E
F
L
O
U
Show structure hint

This hive has 50 playable words worth about 215 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):

F
4 letters15
5 letters2
6 letters9
7+ letters4
Total30
B
4 letters2
5 letters2
6 letters4
7+ letters4
Total12
D
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters3
7+ letters1
Total6
E
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
L
4 letters1
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
O
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
U
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Σ
4 letters20
5 letters5
6 letters16
7+ letters9
Total50

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 4 pts
  • Good: 11 pts
  • Solid: 17 pts
  • Nice: 32 pts
  • Great: 54 pts
  • Amazing: 86 pts
  • Genius: 151 pts
  • Queen Bee: 215 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):

  • BEEF
    4
    1
    No
  • BEEFED
    6
    6
    No
  • BEFELL
    6
    6
    No
  • BEFOUL
    6
    6
    No
  • BEFOULED
    8
    15
    Yes
  • BEFUDDLE
    8
    8
    No
  • BEFUDDLED
    9
    9
    No
  • BLUFF
    5
    5
    No
  • BLUFFED
    7
    7
    No
  • BOFFO
    5
    5
    No
  • BUFF
    4
    1
    No
  • BUFFED
    6
    6
    No
  • DOFF
    4
    1
    No
  • DOFFED
    6
    6
    No
  • DOLEFUL
    7
    7
    No
  • DUFF
    4
    1
    No
  • DUFFEL
    6
    6
    No
  • DUFFLE
    6
    6
    No
  • FEEBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • FEED
    4
    1
    No
  • FEEL
    4
    1
    No
  • FELL
    4
    1
    No
  • FELLED
    6
    6
    No
  • FEUD
    4
    1
    No
  • FEUDED
    6
    6
    No
  • FLED
    4
    1
    No
  • FLEE
    4
    1
    No
  • FLOE
    4
    1
    No
  • FLOOD
    5
    5
    No
  • FLOODED
    7
    7
    No
  • FLUB
    4
    1
    No
  • FLUBBED
    7
    7
    No
  • FLUE
    4
    1
    No
  • FLUFF
    5
    5
    No
  • FLUFFED
    7
    7
    No
  • FOBBED
    6
    6
    No
  • FOLD
    4
    1
    No
  • FOLDED
    6
    6
    No
  • FOOD
    4
    1
    No
  • FOOL
    4
    1
    No
  • FOOLED
    6
    6
    No
  • FOUL
    4
    1
    No
  • FOULED
    6
    6
    No
  • FUDDLE
    6
    6
    No
  • FUDDLED
    7
    7
    No
  • FUEL
    4
    1
    No
  • FUELED
    6
    6
    No
  • FULL
    4
    1
    No
  • LUFF
    4
    1
    No
  • OFFED
    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.

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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: Mar 16, 2026Open the stored hive from Mar 16, 2026 · Puzzle #10707.Next hive: Mar 18, 2026Open the next stored hive from Mar 18, 2026 · Puzzle #25294.