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Spelling Bee hints & answers: May 16, 2026 (Puzzle #10805)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on May 16, 2026 (2026-05-16 · Puzzle #10805).

Hive overview

This hive centers on A with six outer letters. It has 64 stored words, 3 pangrams, and about 286 available points before rank thresholds.

E
H
N
A
O
P
T
Show structure hint

This hive has 64 playable words worth about 286 points in total. Aim to unlock the pangram and a few long words early to get ahead of the ranking curve.

There are 3 pangrams hidden in this hive.

Show word-count hints

Word count matrix (starting letter × length):

A
4 letters4
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters4
Total10
E
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters–
Total2
H
4 letters4
5 letters3
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total10
N
4 letters5
5 letters1
6 letters3
7+ letters1
Total10
O
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total2
P
4 letters7
5 letters2
6 letters3
7+ letters8
Total20
T
4 letters5
5 letters2
6 letters3
7+ letters–
Total10
Σ
4 letters26
5 letters12
6 letters11
7+ letters15
Total64

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: 114 pts
  • Genius: 200 pts
  • Queen Bee: 286 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):

  • AEON
    4
    1
    No
  • ANNATTO
    7
    7
    No
  • ANNOTATE
    8
    8
    No
  • ANON
    4
    1
    No
  • ANTE
    4
    1
    No
  • ANTENNA
    7
    7
    No
  • ANTENNAE
    8
    8
    No
  • APNEA
    5
    5
    No
  • ATONE
    5
    5
    No
  • ATOP
    4
    1
    No
  • EATEN
    5
    5
    No
  • ETHANE
    6
    6
    No
  • HAPPEN
    6
    6
    No
  • HATE
    4
    1
    No
  • HATH
    4
    1
    No
  • HATHA
    5
    5
    No
  • HEAP
    4
    1
    No
  • HEAT
    4
    1
    No
  • HEATH
    5
    5
    No
  • HEATHEN
    7
    7
    No
  • HENNA
    5
    5
    No
  • HEPTANE
    7
    7
    No
  • NAAN
    4
    1
    No
  • NANA
    4
    1
    No
  • NAPE
    4
    1
    No
  • NATANT
    6
    6
    No
  • NEAP
    4
    1
    No
  • NEAT
    4
    1
    No
  • NEATEN
    6
    6
    No
  • NEATH
    5
    5
    No
  • NEONATE
    7
    7
    No
  • NOTATE
    6
    6
    No
  • OATEN
    5
    5
    No
  • OATH
    4
    1
    No
  • PAEAN
    5
    5
    No
  • PANE
    4
    1
    No
  • PANETTONE
    9
    9
    No
  • PANT
    4
    1
    No
  • PANTHEON
    8
    15
    Yes
  • PAPA
    4
    1
    No
  • PATE
    4
    1
    No
  • PATENT
    6
    6
    No
  • PATENTEE
    8
    8
    No
  • PATH
    4
    1
    No
  • PEAHEN
    6
    6
    No
  • PEAT
    4
    1
    No
  • PENNANT
    7
    7
    No
  • PENTANE
    7
    7
    No
  • PHAETON
    7
    14
    Yes
  • PHAT
    4
    1
    No
  • PHONATE
    7
    14
    Yes
  • POPPA
    5
    5
    No
  • POTATO
    6
    6
    No
  • POTENTATE
    9
    9
    No
  • TAPA
    4
    1
    No
  • TAPE
    4
    1
    No
  • TATTOO
    6
    6
    No
  • TEAPOT
    6
    6
    No
  • TEAT
    4
    1
    No
  • TENANT
    6
    6
    No
  • THAN
    4
    1
    No
  • THANE
    5
    5
    No
  • THAT
    4
    1
    No
  • THETA
    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: May 15, 2026Open the stored hive from May 15, 2026 · Puzzle #23161.Next hive: May 17, 2026Open the next stored hive from May 17, 2026 · Puzzle #12471.