NYT Spelling Bee Answers & Hints — July 17, 2026
- 44Total words
- 183Total points
- 128Genius
- 1Pangram
The pangram for July 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 July 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.
- al5
- an2
- ba1
- be2
- bl2
- bu6
- lu9
- ma2
- me1
- mu4
- ne2
- nu3
- ul2
- un3
Word length grid
The most specific spoiler-free hint — hunt a missing word by its length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 7 |
| B | 4 | 1 | 4 | – | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| E | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
| L | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 9 |
| M | 4 | – | 3 | – | – | – | 7 |
| N | 2 | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 5 |
| U | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | 5 |
| Σ | 18 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 44 |
Spelling Bee answers for July 17, 2026
The full word list, grouped by length — pangram first, then longest to shortest. Tap a group to reveal.
P
- albumen14
9
- bumblebee9
8
- bluebell8
7
- alumnae7
- lunulae7
- nebulae7
6
- alumna6
- annual6
- bauble6
- benumb6
- bubble6
- bumble6
- lunula6
- manual6
- mumble6
- muumuu6
- nebula6
- nubble6
- unable6
5
- album5
- annul5
- bubba5
- lumen5
- ulnae5
- unban5
- unman5
4
- alum1
- beau1
- blue1
- bulb1
- bull1
- luau1
- lube1
- lull1
- lulu1
- luna1
- lune1
- maul1
- menu1
- mule1
- mull1
- null1
- numb1
- ulna1
Today's puzzle by the numbers
Difficulty, rank thresholds, pangram etymology and what makes today unusual.
Difficulty
5/ 10
A middling Friday puzzle that leans accessible thanks to a generous cluster of familiar everyday words. With 44 words against a historical average of 45, the list is right on par, though the max score of 183 runs a bit below the 198 average, suggesting fewer long words to mine. The single pangram is a genuine scientific term that rewards solvers who know their biology or chemistry, but it isn't a household word, so it may prove elusive. The real challenge is exhausting the many doubled-letter combinations hiding in the mix without second-guessing yourself.
Points per rank
| Rank | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Bee 👑 | 183 | 100% |
| Genius | 128 | 70% |
| Amazing | 92 | 50% |
| Great | 73 | 40% |
| Nice | 46 | 25% |
| Solid | 27 | 15% |
| Good | 15 | 8% |
| Moving Up | 9 | 5% |
| Good Start | 4 | 2% |
| Beginner | 0 | 0% |
About the pangram
albumen14 pts
From Latin albumen, meaning 'white of an egg,' derived from albus ('white'); the term entered English in the 16th century and was later broadened in biochemistry to describe any of a class of water-soluble proteins found in egg white, blood serum, and milk.
Puzzle facts
- Longest word9 letters
- 4-letter words18 of 44
- Pangram bonus+7 points
- Puzzles archived28
Try another puzzle
Two more NazoKai hints, ready when you are.