Edited by Sam Ezersky
Today’s NYT Spelling Bee is a satisfying mix of quick four-letter finds and a handful of longer “unlock-the-board” words. If you’re circling the hive and feeling like you’ve hit a wall, the trick is usually the same: lean into the center letter and build off repeatable patterns.
Below you’ll find spoiler-free hints first. After that, the pangram and the full answer list are hidden behind click-to-reveal sections so you can stop whenever you want.
Prefer to play it fresh before spoilers? Open the official puzzle here: New York Times Spelling Bee .
Today’s letters (spoiler-light)
Center letter: O
Other letters: A, B, C, E, L, P
Spelling Bee hints (no spoilers)
- Every valid word must include the center letter O, and words must be at least 4 letters.
- Today rewards building around common clusters like CO- and -LO-.
- If you’re stuck, hunt for repeating-letter patterns (think double O) and short everyday nouns first.
- The pangram is a real “aha” word — once you see it, a lot of other options start appearing quickly.
Answers (click to reveal)
Click to reveal today’s pangram
PLACEBO
Pangram tip: once you spot PLACEBO, scan for shorter words that reuse the same core letters (especially O + L + A patterns).
Click to reveal the full answer list
4-letter words
ALOE • BOBA • BOLA • BOLL • BOOP • CAPO • CLOP • COAL • COCA • COLA • COOL • COOP • COPE • ELOPE • LOBE • LOBO • LOCO • LOLL • POLO • POOL • POOP • POPE
5-letter words
BEBOP • BLOB • BLOC • BLOOP • BOCCE • BOLO • BOOB • BOOBOO • BOBBLE • CACAO • CELLO • COCOA • COBBLE • COLLAB • LOCAL • LOCALE • LOLLOP • PEOPLE
6+ letter words (including the pangram)
BAOBAB • CLOACA • ALCOPOP • ALLOCABLE • CALLALOO • PLACEBO
Short about today’s puzzle
The January 14, 2026 Spelling Bee grid is built for momentum: once you land the pangram, the hive opens up into multiple word families that share the same core letters. If your score stalls, switch tactics — grab a few four-letter words to rebuild rhythm, then return to longer constructions where the points climb fast.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
