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Spelling Bee hints & answers: May 17, 2026 (Puzzle #12471)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on May 17, 2026 (2026-05-17 · Puzzle #12471).

Hive overview

This hive centers on L with six outer letters. It has 54 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 212 available points before rank thresholds.

A
C
D
L
O
R
T
Show structure hint

This hive has 54 playable words worth about 212 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):

L
4 letters6
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters1
Total9
A
4 letters1
5 letters3
6 letters1
7+ letters1
Total6
C
4 letters9
5 letters4
6 letters3
7+ letters6
Total22
D
4 letters2
5 letters3
6 letters1
7+ letters1
Total7
O
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total2
R
4 letters1
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
T
4 letters5
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total7
Σ
4 letters25
5 letters15
6 letters5
7+ letters9
Total54

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 4 pts
  • Good: 11 pts
  • Solid: 17 pts
  • Nice: 32 pts
  • Great: 53 pts
  • Amazing: 85 pts
  • Genius: 148 pts
  • Queen Bee: 212 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):

  • ALLOCATOR
    9
    9
    No
  • ALLOT
    5
    5
    No
  • ALTAR
    5
    5
    No
  • ALTO
    4
    1
    No
  • AORTAL
    6
    6
    No
  • ATOLL
    5
    5
    No
  • CALL
    4
    1
    No
  • CALLA
    5
    5
    No
  • CALLALOO
    8
    8
    No
  • CARLOAD
    7
    7
    No
  • CAROL
    5
    5
    No
  • CARTLOAD
    8
    15
    Yes
  • CATCALL
    7
    7
    No
  • CLAD
    4
    1
    No
  • CLOACA
    6
    6
    No
  • CLOD
    4
    1
    No
  • CLOT
    4
    1
    No
  • COAL
    4
    1
    No
  • COLA
    4
    1
    No
  • COLD
    4
    1
    No
  • COLLAR
    6
    6
    No
  • COLLARD
    7
    7
    No
  • COLOR
    5
    5
    No
  • COLT
    4
    1
    No
  • COOL
    4
    1
    No
  • CORAL
    5
    5
    No
  • COROLLA
    7
    7
    No
  • CORRAL
    6
    6
    No
  • DOCTORAL
    8
    15
    Yes
  • DOLL
    4
    1
    No
  • DOLLAR
    6
    6
    No
  • DOLOR
    5
    5
    No
  • DOLT
    4
    1
    No
  • DROLL
    5
    5
    No
  • DROOL
    5
    5
    No
  • LARD
    4
    1
    No
  • LOAD
    4
    1
    No
  • LOCAL
    5
    5
    No
  • LOCATOR
    7
    7
    No
  • LOCO
    4
    1
    No
  • LOLL
    4
    1
    No
  • LOOT
    4
    1
    No
  • LORD
    4
    1
    No
  • LOTTO
    5
    5
    No
  • OCTAL
    5
    5
    No
  • ORAL
    4
    1
    No
  • ROLL
    4
    1
    No
  • TALC
    4
    1
    No
  • TALL
    4
    1
    No
  • TOLD
    4
    1
    No
  • TOLL
    4
    1
    No
  • TOOL
    4
    1
    No
  • TOTAL
    5
    5
    No
  • TROLL
    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 16, 2026Open the stored hive from May 16, 2026 · Puzzle #10805.Next hive: May 18, 2026Open the next stored hive from May 18, 2026 · Puzzle #23258.