Daily hive, hints, and answers
NYT Spelling Bee Answers Today — July 20, 2026
Today's verified answer guide has 38 words, 2 pangrams, and 136 possible points. Check letter patterns first, then reveal only the answers you need.
Complete daily answer set checked for letter and score consistency
Daily answer workspace
Hive, patterns, and complete word list
Center letter required in every answer
38
Words
136
Total score
2
Pangrams
95
Genius score
Frequency grid
First letter by answer length
| Start | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Σ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| h | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 |
| i | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| l | 6 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | 9 |
| m | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| n | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 3 |
| o | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 3 |
| t | 5 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 7 |
| Σ | 22 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 38 |
Rank thresholds
Beginner0 pts
Good Start3 pts
Moving Up7 pts
Good11 pts
Solid20 pts
Nice34 pts
Great54 pts
Amazing68 pts
Genius95 pts
Queen Bee136 pts
Complete answer list
Words found: 38
9 letters (2)
8 letters (1)
7 letters (2)
6 letters (5)
5 letters (6)
4 letters (22)
Edited by Sam Ezersky. Reveal choices stay on this device and reset when the page reloads.
Canonical answer page: /spelling-bee-answers/2026-07-20
Daily answer guide
NYT Spelling Bee answers at a glance
The July 20, 2026 puzzle contains 38 accepted words, 2 pangrams, and 136 total points. Use the controls above to uncover only the amount of help you want.
Spoiler control
How to use these NYT Spelling Bee answers
Start with pattern hints, then reveal a group or a single word only when you need it. The answer panel is designed to help with one stubborn gap without exposing the whole puzzle.
1. Read the hive
Confirm the yellow center letter and six outer letters match your puzzle.
2. Check patterns
Use the frequency grid and prefix lists to narrow the missing word.
3. Reveal gradually
Open one length, one answer, or one letter before using Reveal all.
Rules and points
How NYT Spelling Bee scoring works
Form words of at least four letters using only letters in the hive. Letters may repeat, but every answer must contain the center letter. The official accepted list excludes many proper nouns, abbreviations, and hyphenated forms.
| Answer type | Points |
|---|---|
| Four-letter word | 1 point |
| Five letters or more | 1 point per letter |
| Pangram | Word length + 7 bonus points |
Tips for solving NYT Spelling Bee
Begin with the center letter
Build short stems around the required letter before looking for longer forms.
Try common endings
Test -ED, -ING, -ER, -LY, and plural forms when the hive supports them.
Reuse letters freely
A hive letter may appear more than once, which unlocks doubled letters and longer words.
Use the prefix counts
A missing two- or three-letter beginning can be more helpful than revealing an answer.
Hunt for the pangram
Combine every letter at least once; repeated letters are allowed in the same pangram.
Return with fresh eyes
Word families often become easier to spot after a short break.
A beginner-friendly solving routine
- 1. List obvious four-letter words to establish the day's common roots.
- 2. Extend those roots with endings and doubled letters.
- 3. Scan the frequency grid for a first letter and length you have missed.
- 4. Use prefix counts before revealing any complete answer.
- 5. Compare your score with the rank thresholds and stop when the help level feels right.
NYT Spelling Bee glossary
- Center letter
- The required letter shown in the middle of the honeycomb.
- Pangram
- An accepted answer that uses every hive letter at least once.
- Genius
- The rank reached after earning roughly 70% of the available score.
- Queen Bee
- The perfect result for finding every answer in the daily word list.
- Hive
- The seven-letter honeycomb used to form words.
- Prefix hint
- A two- or three-letter beginning paired with the number of matching answers.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find today's NYT Spelling Bee answers for July 20, 2026?
Use the answer groups on this page to reveal the complete word list by length, one word at a time, or one letter at a time. The honeycomb and puzzle date identify the exact daily puzzle.
What is the center letter in Spelling Bee?
The center letter is the required letter in the yellow hexagon. Every accepted word must contain it, while the six outer letters may be used as often as needed.
How is a Spelling Bee word scored?
Four-letter words are worth one point. Longer words normally earn one point per letter, and a pangram receives a seven-point bonus in addition to its length score.
What is a pangram in NYT Spelling Bee?
A pangram is an accepted word that uses all seven letters in the hive at least once. A puzzle can contain one or more pangrams.
What do Genius and Queen Bee mean?
Genius is the rank reached at about 70 percent of the puzzle’s available points. Queen Bee means finding every accepted answer and earning the full possible score.
Keep playing and compare related daily puzzles
Open the official game when you are ready to play, or explore another spoiler-safe daily word puzzle on this site.