NYT Spelling Bee Answers & Hints — August 17, 2026
- 38Total words
- 115Total points
- 81Genius
- 1Pangram
The pangram for August 17, 2026
Every letter used at least once — worth a bonus 7 points on top of the length score.
Letter by letter
7 letters · tap any tile to reveal just that letter.
Spelling Bee hints for August 17, 2026
Three levels of help, gentlest first — take only as much as you need. Skip straight to the answers →
Words per starting letter
The gentlest nudge — which letters do the heavy lifting today.
Two-letter tally
How many words start with each pair — if a pair isn't here, nothing starts with it.
- do7
- dr4
- go6
- gr3
- gy1
- od1
- op1
- or1
- po4
- pr5
- py1
- ri1
- ro2
- yo1
Word length grid
The most specific spoiler-free hint — hunt a missing word by its length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 5 | 5 | 1 | – | 11 |
| G | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | 10 |
| I | – | – | – | – | 0 |
| O | 2 | – | 1 | – | 3 |
| P | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| R | 2 | 1 | – | – | 3 |
| Y | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Σ | 22 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 38 |
Spelling Bee answers for August 17, 2026
The full word list, grouped by length — pangram first, then longest to shortest. Tap a group to reveal.
P
- prodigy14
6
- droopy6
- groggy6
- opioid6
- priory6
5
- dodgy5
- doggo5
- doggy5
- droid5
- droop5
- goody5
- goopy5
- grody5
- poppy5
- prior5
- rigor5
4
- dodo1
- door1
- dopy1
- dory1
- drop1
- good1
- goop1
- gorp1
- gory1
- grog1
- gyro1
- odor1
- orgy1
- pogo1
- poop1
- poor1
- prod1
- prop1
- pyro1
- rood1
- ropy1
- yogi1
Today's puzzle by the numbers
Difficulty, rank thresholds, pangram etymology and what makes today unusual.
Difficulty
5/ 10
A middling Monday — accessible enough for casual solvers but with a few tricky corners. At 38 words and a max score of 115, today's puzzle runs notably leaner than the historical average of 44 words and 205 points, meaning there are fewer paths to Genius and less room for error. The letter mix rewards solvers who think in repeated consonants and double-vowel patterns, and the single pangram is a satisfying find once the right combination clicks. A handful of informal or slightly dated slang terms may trip up solvers who stick to formal vocabulary.
Points per rank
| Rank | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Bee 👑 | 115 | 100% |
| Genius | 81 | 70% |
| Amazing | 58 | 50% |
| Great | 46 | 40% |
| Nice | 29 | 25% |
| Solid | 17 | 15% |
| Good | 9 | 8% |
| Moving Up | 6 | 5% |
| Good Start | 2 | 2% |
| Beginner | 0 | 0% |
About the pangram
prodigy14 pts
From Latin 'prodigium,' meaning an omen or portent — something so extraordinary it seemed divinely sent. By the 16th century English had narrowed the sense from supernatural sign to a person of extraordinary natural ability, especially a child.
Puzzle facts
- Longest word7 letters
- 4-letter words22 of 38
- Pangram bonus+7 points
- Puzzles archived85
Try another puzzle
Two more NazoKai hints, ready when you are.