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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Jul 17, 2026 (Puzzle #18162)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Jul 17, 2026 (2026-07-17 · Puzzle #18162).

Hive overview

This hive centers on U with six outer letters. It has 44 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 183 available points before rank thresholds.

A
B
E
U
L
M
N
Show structure hint

This hive has 44 playable words worth about 183 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):

U
4 letters1
5 letters3
6 letters1
7+ letters–
Total5
A
4 letters1
5 letters2
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total7
B
4 letters4
5 letters1
6 letters4
7+ letters2
Total11
E
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
L
4 letters6
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters1
Total9
M
4 letters4
5 letters–
6 letters3
7+ letters–
Total7
N
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters2
7+ letters1
Total5
Σ
4 letters18
5 letters7
6 letters13
7+ letters6
Total44

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 4 pts
  • Good: 9 pts
  • Solid: 15 pts
  • Nice: 27 pts
  • Great: 46 pts
  • Amazing: 73 pts
  • Genius: 128 pts
  • Queen Bee: 183 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):

  • ALBUM
    5
    5
    No
  • ALBUMEN
    7
    14
    Yes
  • ALUM
    4
    1
    No
  • ALUMNA
    6
    6
    No
  • ALUMNAE
    7
    7
    No
  • ANNUAL
    6
    6
    No
  • ANNUL
    5
    5
    No
  • BAUBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • BEAU
    4
    1
    No
  • BENUMB
    6
    6
    No
  • BLUE
    4
    1
    No
  • BLUEBELL
    8
    8
    No
  • BUBBA
    5
    5
    No
  • BUBBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • BULB
    4
    1
    No
  • BULL
    4
    1
    No
  • BUMBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • BUMBLEBEE
    9
    9
    No
  • LUAU
    4
    1
    No
  • LUBE
    4
    1
    No
  • LULL
    4
    1
    No
  • LULU
    4
    1
    No
  • LUMEN
    5
    5
    No
  • LUNA
    4
    1
    No
  • LUNE
    4
    1
    No
  • LUNULA
    6
    6
    No
  • LUNULAE
    7
    7
    No
  • MANUAL
    6
    6
    No
  • MAUL
    4
    1
    No
  • MENU
    4
    1
    No
  • MULE
    4
    1
    No
  • MULL
    4
    1
    No
  • MUMBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • MUUMUU
    6
    6
    No
  • NEBULA
    6
    6
    No
  • NEBULAE
    7
    7
    No
  • NUBBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • NULL
    4
    1
    No
  • NUMB
    4
    1
    No
  • ULNA
    4
    1
    No
  • ULNAE
    5
    5
    No
  • UNABLE
    6
    6
    No
  • UNBAN
    5
    5
    No
  • UNMAN
    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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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: Jul 16, 2026Open the stored hive from Jul 16, 2026 · Puzzle #12570.Next hive: Jul 18, 2026Open the next stored hive from Jul 18, 2026 · Puzzle #25128.