Menu
XfireXfire
Full search page

Spelling Bee hints & answers: Sep 8, 2026 (Puzzle #21816)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Sep 8, 2026 (2026-09-08 · Puzzle #21816).

Hive overview

This hive centers on I with six outer letters. It has 66 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 309 available points before rank thresholds.

A
C
E
I
F
L
T
Show structure hint

This hive has 66 playable words worth about 309 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):

I
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total5
A
4 letters2
5 letters2
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total8
C
4 letters1
5 letters4
6 letters1
7+ letters2
Total8
E
4 letters–
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters1
Total3
F
4 letters7
5 letters2
6 letters4
7+ letters2
Total15
L
4 letters6
5 letters2
6 letters4
7+ letters1
Total13
T
4 letters6
5 letters2
6 letters3
7+ letters3
Total14
Σ
4 letters22
5 letters14
6 letters17
7+ letters13
Total66

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 6 pts
  • Good: 15 pts
  • Solid: 25 pts
  • Nice: 46 pts
  • Great: 77 pts
  • Amazing: 124 pts
  • Genius: 216 pts
  • Queen Bee: 309 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):

  • ACACIA
    6
    6
    No
  • ACAI
    4
    1
    No
  • ACETIC
    6
    6
    No
  • AFFILIATE
    9
    9
    No
  • AFFLICT
    7
    7
    No
  • ALIT
    4
    1
    No
  • ATILT
    5
    5
    No
  • ATTIC
    5
    5
    No
  • CACTI
    5
    5
    No
  • CALCITE
    7
    7
    No
  • CATTAIL
    7
    7
    No
  • CELIAC
    6
    6
    No
  • CELLI
    5
    5
    No
  • CILIA
    5
    5
    No
  • CITE
    4
    1
    No
  • CLIFF
    5
    5
    No
  • ECLECTIC
    8
    8
    No
  • ELICIT
    6
    6
    No
  • ELITE
    5
    5
    No
  • FACELIFT
    8
    15
    Yes
  • FACIAL
    6
    6
    No
  • FACILE
    6
    6
    No
  • FACILITATE
    10
    17
    Yes
  • FAIL
    4
    1
    No
  • FIAT
    4
    1
    No
  • FIEF
    4
    1
    No
  • FIFE
    4
    1
    No
  • FILE
    4
    1
    No
  • FILET
    5
    5
    No
  • FILIAL
    6
    6
    No
  • FILL
    4
    1
    No
  • FILLET
    6
    6
    No
  • FLAIL
    5
    5
    No
  • FLIT
    4
    1
    No
  • ICEFALL
    7
    7
    No
  • ICICLE
    6
    6
    No
  • ILIAC
    5
    5
    No
  • ILLICIT
    7
    7
    No
  • ITALIC
    6
    6
    No
  • LACTIC
    6
    6
    No
  • LAIC
    4
    1
    No
  • LAICAL
    6
    6
    No
  • LATTICE
    7
    7
    No
  • LEFTIE
    6
    6
    No
  • LICE
    4
    1
    No
  • LICIT
    5
    5
    No
  • LIFE
    4
    1
    No
  • LIFT
    4
    1
    No
  • LILAC
    5
    5
    No
  • LILT
    4
    1
    No
  • LITE
    4
    1
    No
  • LITTLE
    6
    6
    No
  • TACIT
    5
    5
    No
  • TACTIC
    6
    6
    No
  • TACTICAL
    8
    8
    No
  • TACTILE
    7
    7
    No
  • TAIL
    4
    1
    No
  • TALI
    4
    1
    No
  • TALLIT
    6
    6
    No
  • TIFF
    4
    1
    No
  • TILE
    4
    1
    No
  • TILL
    4
    1
    No
  • TILT
    4
    1
    No
  • TITILLATE
    9
    9
    No
  • TITLE
    5
    5
    No
  • TITTLE
    6
    6
    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.

Move between Spelling Bee dates

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: Sep 7, 2026Open the stored hive from Sep 7, 2026 · Puzzle #10303.Next hive: Sep 9, 2026Open the next stored hive from Sep 9, 2026 · Puzzle #22702.