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Spelling Bee hints & answers: May 20, 2026 (Puzzle #27586)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on May 20, 2026 (2026-05-20 · Puzzle #27586).

Hive overview

This hive centers on A with six outer letters. It has 51 stored words, 3 pangrams, and about 229 available points before rank thresholds.

B
C
D
A
K
O
R
Show structure hint

This hive has 51 playable words worth about 229 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 letters1
5 letters4
6 letters3
7+ letters1
Total9
B
4 letters8
5 letters3
6 letters1
7+ letters6
Total18
C
4 letters5
5 letters6
6 letters–
7+ letters2
Total13
D
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters2
7+ letters–
Total4
K
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
O
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total2
R
4 letters3
5 letters1
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total4
Σ
4 letters21
5 letters15
6 letters6
7+ letters9
Total51

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 5 pts
  • Good: 11 pts
  • Solid: 18 pts
  • Nice: 34 pts
  • Great: 57 pts
  • Amazing: 92 pts
  • Genius: 160 pts
  • Queen Bee: 229 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):

  • ABACK
    5
    5
    No
  • ABOARD
    6
    6
    No
  • ABRACADABRA
    11
    11
    No
  • ABROAD
    6
    6
    No
  • ACCORD
    6
    6
    No
  • ADOBO
    5
    5
    No
  • ARBOR
    5
    5
    No
  • ARCO
    4
    1
    No
  • ARDOR
    5
    5
    No
  • BABA
    4
    1
    No
  • BABKA
    5
    5
    No
  • BACK
    4
    1
    No
  • BACKBOARD
    9
    16
    Yes
  • BACKDOOR
    8
    15
    Yes
  • BAOBAB
    6
    6
    No
  • BARB
    4
    1
    No
  • BARBACK
    7
    7
    No
  • BARBACOA
    8
    8
    No
  • BARD
    4
    1
    No
  • BARK
    4
    1
    No
  • BARRACK
    7
    7
    No
  • BOAR
    4
    1
    No
  • BOARD
    5
    5
    No
  • BOBA
    4
    1
    No
  • BOOKRACK
    8
    8
    No
  • BRAD
    4
    1
    No
  • BROAD
    5
    5
    No
  • CACAO
    5
    5
    No
  • CARB
    4
    1
    No
  • CARD
    4
    1
    No
  • CARDBOARD
    9
    9
    No
  • CAROB
    5
    5
    No
  • COBRA
    5
    5
    No
  • COCA
    4
    1
    No
  • COCOA
    5
    5
    No
  • CODA
    4
    1
    No
  • CORKBOARD
    9
    16
    Yes
  • CRAB
    4
    1
    No
  • CRACK
    5
    5
    No
  • CROAK
    5
    5
    No
  • DARK
    4
    1
    No
  • DOODAD
    6
    6
    No
  • DORADO
    6
    6
    No
  • DRAB
    4
    1
    No
  • KABOB
    5
    5
    No
  • OKRA
    4
    1
    No
  • ORCA
    4
    1
    No
  • RACK
    4
    1
    No
  • RADAR
    5
    5
    No
  • ROAD
    4
    1
    No
  • ROAR
    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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Today's hintsSee hive structure, rank cues, and spoiler-layered help.Spelling Bee archiveJump to stored hives by NYT print date.Previous hive: May 19, 2026Open the stored hive from May 19, 2026 · Puzzle #12563.Next hive: May 21, 2026Open the next stored hive from May 21, 2026 · Puzzle #19258.