NYT Spelling Bee

Answers · Analysis · Spoiler controlled

Spelling Bee Answers & Analysis

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Start with the shape of the puzzle, reveal only the help you want, and open the full list when you are ready.

ACDORT L
54Answers
2Pangrams
212Maximum
149Genius

Answer shape

Use the distributions before revealing any words.

Words by first letter

A6
C22
D7
L9
O2
R1
T7

Words by length

425
515
65
75
83
91

Two-letter starts

AL4
AO1
AT1
CA7
CL4
CO11
DO5
DR2
LA1
LO8
OC1
OR1
RO1
TA2
TO4
TR1

Pangram ladder

Open one clue at a time.

Pangram 1
Length

8 letters · 15 points

First and last letters

C … D

Letter pattern

C••••••D

A × 2

Reveal Pangram — spoiler

cartload

Pangram 2
Length

8 letters · 15 points

First and last letters

D … L

Letter pattern

D••••••L

O × 2

Reveal Pangram — spoiler

doctoral

Complete answer list

Reveal full answers — spoiler

A 6

  • allocator
  • allot
  • altar
  • alto
  • aortal
  • atoll

C 22

  • call
  • calla
  • callaloo
  • carload
  • carol
  • cartloadPangram
  • catcall
  • clad
  • cloaca
  • clod
  • clot
  • coal
  • cola
  • cold
  • collar
  • collard
  • color
  • colt
  • cool
  • coral
  • corolla
  • corral

D 7

  • doctoralPangram
  • doll
  • dollar
  • dolor
  • dolt
  • droll
  • drool

L 9

  • lard
  • load
  • local
  • locator
  • loco
  • loll
  • loot
  • lord
  • lotto

O 2

  • octal
  • oral

R 1

  • roll

T 7

  • talc
  • tall
  • told
  • toll
  • tool
  • total
  • troll

How hard was this puzzle?

This puzzle's structural difficulty is Moderate at 37/100, compared with 137 available puzzles through this date.

Read the difficulty methodology and comparisons