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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Aug 16, 2026 (Puzzle #12718)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Aug 16, 2026 (2026-08-16 · Puzzle #12718).

Hive overview

This hive centers on C with six outer letters. It has 52 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 257 available points before rank thresholds.

B
D
E
C
L
O
U
Show structure hint

This hive has 52 playable words worth about 257 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):

C
4 letters12
5 letters9
6 letters7
7+ letters8
Total36
B
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total5
D
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total6
E
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters–
Total2
L
4 letters1
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
O
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters2
Total2
U
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Σ
4 letters15
5 letters12
6 letters11
7+ letters14
Total52

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 5 pts
  • Good: 13 pts
  • Solid: 21 pts
  • Nice: 39 pts
  • Great: 64 pts
  • Amazing: 103 pts
  • Genius: 180 pts
  • Queen Bee: 257 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):

  • BECLOUD
    7
    14
    Yes
  • BECLOUDED
    9
    16
    Yes
  • BLOC
    4
    1
    No
  • BOCCE
    5
    5
    No
  • BOUCLE
    6
    6
    No
  • CEDE
    4
    1
    No
  • CEDED
    5
    5
    No
  • CELEB
    5
    5
    No
  • CELL
    4
    1
    No
  • CELLED
    6
    6
    No
  • CELLO
    5
    5
    No
  • CELLULE
    7
    7
    No
  • CLOD
    4
    1
    No
  • CLOUD
    5
    5
    No
  • CLOUDED
    7
    7
    No
  • CLUB
    4
    1
    No
  • CLUBBED
    7
    7
    No
  • CLUE
    4
    1
    No
  • CLUED
    5
    5
    No
  • COBBLE
    6
    6
    No
  • COBBLED
    7
    7
    No
  • CODDLE
    6
    6
    No
  • CODDLED
    7
    7
    No
  • CODE
    4
    1
    No
  • CODED
    5
    5
    No
  • COED
    4
    1
    No
  • COLD
    4
    1
    No
  • COLLUDE
    7
    7
    No
  • COLLUDED
    8
    8
    No
  • COOED
    5
    5
    No
  • COOL
    4
    1
    No
  • COOLED
    6
    6
    No
  • COULD
    5
    5
    No
  • COULEE
    6
    6
    No
  • CUBE
    4
    1
    No
  • CUBED
    5
    5
    No
  • CUDDLE
    6
    6
    No
  • CUDDLED
    7
    7
    No
  • CUED
    4
    1
    No
  • CULL
    4
    1
    No
  • CULLED
    6
    6
    No
  • DECO
    4
    1
    No
  • DECODE
    6
    6
    No
  • DECODED
    7
    7
    No
  • DEDUCE
    6
    6
    No
  • DEDUCED
    7
    7
    No
  • DEUCE
    5
    5
    No
  • EDUCE
    5
    5
    No
  • EDUCED
    6
    6
    No
  • LOCO
    4
    1
    No
  • OCCLUDE
    7
    7
    No
  • OCCLUDED
    8
    8
    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: Aug 15, 2026Open the stored hive from Aug 15, 2026 · Puzzle #10241.Next hive: Aug 17, 2026Open the next stored hive from Aug 17, 2026 · Puzzle #23497.