Spelling Bee hints & answers: Sep 27, 2026 (Puzzle #20562)

This page shows spoiler-layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Sep 27, 2026 (2026-09-27 · Puzzle #20562).

Hive overview

This hive centers on F with six outer letters. It has 78 stored words, 4 pangrams, and about 431 available points before rank thresholds.

Show structure hint

This hive has 78 playable words worth about 431 points in total. Aim to unlock the pangram and a few long words early to get ahead of the ranking curve.

There are 4 pangrams hidden in this hive.

Show word-count hints

Word count matrix (starting letter × length):

	4	5	6	7+	Σ
F	4 letters17	5 letters9	6 letters12	7+ letters7	Total45
D	4 letters1	5 letters–	6 letters7	7+ letters5	Total13
E	4 letters–	5 letters1	6 letters–	7+ letters1	Total2
I	4 letters–	5 letters–	6 letters1	7+ letters3	Total4
L	4 letters2	5 letters–	6 letters1	7+ letters1	Total4
N	4 letters–	5 letters–	6 letters–	7+ letters2	Total2
U	4 letters–	5 letters1	6 letters–	7+ letters7	Total8
Σ	4 letters20	5 letters11	6 letters21	7+ letters26	Total78

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

Good Start: 0 pts
Moving Up: 9 pts
Good: 22 pts
Solid: 34 pts
Nice: 65 pts
Great: 108 pts
Amazing: 172 pts
Genius: 302 pts
Queen Bee: 431 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):

WordLengthScorePangram

DEFEND
6
6
No
DEFENDED
8
8
No
DEFIED
6
6
No
DEFILE
6
6
No
DEFILED
7
7
No
DEFINE
6
6
No
DEFINED
7
7
No
DEFUND
6
6
No
DEFUNDED
8
8
No
DEIFIED
7
7
No
DUFF
4
1
No
DUFFEL
6
6
No
DUFFLE
6
6
No
EDIFIED
7
7
No
ELFIN
5
5
No
FEED
4
1
No
FEEL
4
1
No
FELID
5
5
No
FELINE
6
6
No
FELL
4
1
No
FELLED
6
6
No
FEND
4
1
No
FENDED
6
6
No
FENNEL
6
6
No
FEUD
4
1
No
FEUDED
6
6
No
FIDDLE
6
6
No
FIDDLED
7
7
No
FIEF
4
1
No
FIELD
5
5
No
FIELDED
7
7
No
FIEND
5
5
No
FIFE
4
1
No
FIFED
5
5
No
FILE
4
1
No
FILED
5
5
No
FILL
4
1
No
FILLED
6
6
No
FIND
4
1
No
FINE
4
1
No
FINED
5
5
No
FINNED
6
6
No
FLED
4
1
No
FLEE
4
1
No
FLIED
5
5
No
FLUE
4
1
No
FLUFF
5
5
No
FLUFFED
7
7
No
FLUID
5
5
No
FUDDLE
6
6
No
FUDDLED
7
7
No
FUEL
4
1
No
FUELED
6
6
No
FULFILL
7
7
No
FULFILLED
9
9
No
FULL
4
1
No
FUND
4
1
No
FUNDED
6
6
No
FUNNEL
6
6
No
FUNNELED
8
8
No
INFIDEL
7
7
No
INFIELD
7
7
No
INFILL
6
6
No
INFILLED
8
8
No
LIFE
4
1
No
LIFELINE
8
8
No
LUFF
4
1
No
LUFFED
6
6
No
NEEDFUL
7
7
No
NULLIFIED
9
16
Yes
UNDEFENDED
10
10
No
UNDEFINED
9
9
No
UNFED
5
5
No
UNFILED
7
14
Yes
UNFILLED
8
15
Yes
UNFULFILLED
11
18
Yes
UNFUNDED
8
8
No
UNIFIED
7
7
No

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