Spelling Bee hints & answers: Aug 28, 2026 (Puzzle #21042)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Aug 28, 2026 (2026-08-28 · Puzzle #21042).

Hive overview

This hive centers on V with six outer letters. It has 21 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 119 available points before rank thresholds.

A
D
I
V
L
T
Y
Show structure hint

This hive has 21 playable words worth about 119 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):

V
4 letters1
5 letters4
6 letters
7+ letters6
Total11
A
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters1
Total4
D
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters
7+ letters
Total2
I
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total0
L
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters
7+ letters2
Total4
T
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total0
Y
4 letters
5 letters
6 letters
7+ letters
Total0
Σ
4 letters4
5 letters7
6 letters1
7+ letters9
Total21

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 2 pts
  • Good: 6 pts
  • Solid: 10 pts
  • Nice: 18 pts
  • Great: 30 pts
  • Amazing: 48 pts
  • Genius: 83 pts
  • Queen Bee: 119 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):

  • AVAIL
    5
    5
    No
  • AVID
    4
    1
    No
  • AVIDITY
    7
    7
    No
  • AVIDLY
    6
    6
    No
  • DIVA
    4
    1
    No
  • DIVVY
    5
    5
    No
  • LAVA
    4
    1
    No
  • LIVID
    5
    5
    No
  • LIVIDITY
    8
    8
    No
  • LIVIDLY
    7
    7
    No
  • VALID
    5
    5
    No
  • VALIDITY
    8
    15
    Yes
  • VALIDLY
    7
    7
    No
  • VIAL
    4
    1
    No
  • VILLA
    5
    5
    No
  • VITAL
    5
    5
    No
  • VITALITY
    8
    8
    No
  • VITALLY
    7
    7
    No
  • VIVID
    5
    5
    No
  • VIVIDITY
    8
    8
    No
  • VIVIDLY
    7
    7
    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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