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Spelling Bee hints & answers: Sep 17, 2026 (Puzzle #26068)

This page shows spoiler-layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Sep 17, 2026 (2026-09-17 · Puzzle #26068).

Hive overview

This hive centers on M with six outer letters. It has 36 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 124 available points before rank thresholds.

A
F
I
M
L
O
Y
Show structure hint

This hive has 36 playable words worth about 124 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):

M
4 letters9
5 letters6
6 letters2
7+ letters1
Total18
A
4 letters2
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total2
F
4 letters2
5 letters2
6 letters1
7+ letters3
Total8
I
4 letters1
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total1
L
4 letters5
5 letters2
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total7
O
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Y
4 letters–
5 letters–
6 letters–
7+ letters–
Total0
Σ
4 letters19
5 letters10
6 letters3
7+ letters4
Total36

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 2 pts
  • Good: 6 pts
  • Solid: 10 pts
  • Nice: 19 pts
  • Great: 31 pts
  • Amazing: 50 pts
  • Genius: 87 pts
  • Queen Bee: 124 pts

Check your current score in the NYT game to see how close you are to each rank.

Show two-letter and length counts

Counts use the available unique accepted answers; they do not add dictionary guesses.

By length: 4 letters: 19 · 5 letters: 10 · 6 letters: 3 · 7 letters: 2 · 8 letters: 2

By first two letters: AM: 2 · FA: 2 · FI: 2 · FL: 1 · FO: 3 · IM: 1 · LA: 1 · LI: 2 · LL: 1 · LO: 3 · MA: 9 · MI: 2 · MO: 7

Pangram 1

Show length and score

7 letters; worth 14 points. A perfect pangram: each hive letter appears once.

Show letter pattern

The pangram starts with F and ends with Y: F•••••Y.

Reveal this pangram

FOAMILY

Show score and letter coverage

FOAMILY: 7 letter points + 7 pangram bonus = 14 points. Uses all seven letters: A, F, I, L, M, O, Y.

Reveal full answer list (spoiler)

Full answer list for this hive (alphabetical):

  • AMMO
    4
    1
    No
  • AMYL
    4
    1
    No
  • FAMILIAL
    8
    8
    No
  • FAMILY
    6
    6
    No
  • FILM
    4
    1
    No
  • FILMY
    5
    5
    No
  • FLIMFLAM
    8
    8
    No
  • FOAM
    4
    1
    No
  • FOAMILY
    7
    14
    Yes
  • FOAMY
    5
    5
    No
  • IMAM
    4
    1
    No
  • LAMA
    4
    1
    No
  • LIMA
    4
    1
    No
  • LIMO
    4
    1
    No
  • LLAMA
    5
    5
    No
  • LOAM
    4
    1
    No
  • LOAMY
    5
    5
    No
  • LOOM
    4
    1
    No
  • MAFIA
    5
    5
    No
  • MAIL
    4
    1
    No
  • MAIM
    4
    1
    No
  • MALL
    4
    1
    No
  • MAMA
    4
    1
    No
  • MAMMA
    5
    5
    No
  • MAMMAL
    6
    6
    No
  • MAYFLY
    6
    6
    No
  • MAYO
    4
    1
    No
  • MIFF
    4
    1
    No
  • MILL
    4
    1
    No
  • MOIL
    4
    1
    No
  • MOLL
    4
    1
    No
  • MOLLIFY
    7
    7
    No
  • MOLLY
    5
    5
    No
  • MOMMA
    5
    5
    No
  • MOMMY
    5
    5
    No
  • MOOLA
    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.

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 16, 2026Open the stored hive from Sep 16, 2026 · Puzzle #20283.Next hive: Sep 18, 2026Open the stored hive from Sep 18, 2026 · Puzzle #24893.