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Spelling Bee hints & answers: May 18, 2026 (Puzzle #23258)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on May 18, 2026 (2026-05-18 · Puzzle #23258).

Hive overview

This hive centers on P with six outer letters. It has 16 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 60 available points before rank thresholds.

A
C
H
P
T
U
Z
Show structure hint

This hive has 16 playable words worth about 60 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):

P
4 letters7
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total8
A
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
C
4 letters1
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters4
Total7
H
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
T
4 letters1
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
U
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Z
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Σ
4 letters9
5 letters3
6 letters0
7+ letters4
Total16

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 1 pts
  • Good: 3 pts
  • Solid: 5 pts
  • Nice: 9 pts
  • Great: 15 pts
  • Amazing: 24 pts
  • Genius: 42 pts
  • Queen Bee: 60 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):

  • CAPTCHA
    7
    7
    No
  • CATCHUP
    7
    7
    No
  • CHAP
    4
    1
    No
  • CHUPPAH
    7
    7
    No
  • CHUTZPAH
    8
    15
    Yes
  • CUPPA
    5
    5
    No
  • CUTUP
    5
    5
    No
  • PACT
    4
    1
    No
  • PAPA
    4
    1
    No
  • PATCH
    5
    5
    No
  • PATH
    4
    1
    No
  • PHAT
    4
    1
    No
  • PUPA
    4
    1
    No
  • PUTT
    4
    1
    No
  • PUTZ
    4
    1
    No
  • TAPA
    4
    1
    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: May 17, 2026Open the stored hive from May 17, 2026 · Puzzle #12471.Next hive: May 19, 2026Open the next stored hive from May 19, 2026 · Puzzle #12563.