You’ve got the honeycomb open. The center letter is staring back at you like a challenge. Sunday mornings—or evenings, depending on when your brain finally decides to cooperate—are for the NYT Spelling Bee. But honestly, some days the word list feels like it was put together by someone who just wants to see us suffer.
If you're looking for NYT Spelling Bee hints for today, January 18, 2026, you aren't alone. Today’s set of letters—C in the center, surrounded by A, D, G, I, N, and T—is a tricky little beast. It’s heavy on the "-ing" suffixes and the "-ic" endings, but the path to Queen Bee is paved with words you probably haven't said out loud in a decade.
The Layout for January 18, 2026
Basically, we’re working with a seven-letter palette that feels very... academic. Or maybe a bit medical.
- Center Letter: C
- Outer Letters: A, D, G, I, N, T
- Pangram: (There is at least one!)
Let’s talk stats for a second. Today's puzzle has a total of 50 possible answers. That’s a fairly hefty list, ranking in the 75th percentile for difficulty in terms of volume. If you're aiming for Genius, you're going to need 227 points. To get there, you’ll definitely need to find an 8-letter word or two, and honestly, finding the pangram early makes the rest of the climb feel way less steep.
NYT Spelling Bee Hints for Today: The Tricky Stuff
Why is this specific board so annoying? It’s the "C." When C is the center, your brain immediately goes to "Cat" or "Can," but then you realize you’re trapped in a loop of "Caging" and "Acting."
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The Pangram Clue
If you're hunting for that elusive pangram (using all seven letters), think about someone who is very, very careful. Someone who uses a lot of caution. Or, perhaps, the act of indicating something. It’s an 11-letter word. It starts with I.
Suffix City
You’ve probably already found Acting, Acing, and Caging. But are you looking for the more "science-y" stuff?
- Think about pH levels. What do you call something with a low pH? (7 letters, starts with A)
- Think about trees. There's a specific type of thorny tree or shrub that fits perfectly here. (6 letters, starts with A)
- Think about data. If you are a computer person, you might be... (7 letters, starts with C)
Word Grids and Starting Letters
Sometimes you just need to know how many words you’re missing from a certain category. Here is the breakdown of the word lengths and their starting letters for today's puzzle.
Starting Letter: A
- 4 letters: 3 words
- 5 letters: 2 words
- 6 letters: 1 word
- 7 letters: 1 word
Starting Letter: C
- 4 letters: 4 words
- 5 letters: 5 words
- 6 letters: 7 words
- 7 letters: 6 words
- 8 letters: 2 words
Starting Letter: D
- 7 letters: 2 words
- 8 letters: 1 word
Starting Letter: G
- 6 letters: 1 word
Starting Letter: I
- 11 letters: 1 word (The Pangram!)
Why "Coir" Isn't Working
If you’re a long-time player, you’ve probably tried to use "Coir" (the fiber from coconut husks). Every single time this letter combination comes up, people try it. And every single time, Sam Ezersky rejects it. It’s a classic Bee-user frustration. Along the same lines, don't bother with "Annatto" or "Riata" today either. They aren't on the list.
The Spelling Bee dictionary is its own weird ecosystem. It’s based on the Merriam-Webster, but it’s curated. If a word is "too obscure," it gets the boot. This is why "Acacia" (the tree) is in, but "Coir" is out. One is a common enough plant name; the other is apparently too niche for the morning coffee crowd.
Strategies for Hitting Genius
If you’re stuck at "Great" and just want to hit "Genius" so you can close the app and go about your life, focus on the "-ing" words. With G, I, and N on the outer ring and C in the center, you have a goldmine of gerunds.
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Look for verbs that end in C. Arc. Sync (Wait, is there an S? No. Forget sync). Focus on the verbs you can make. Act. Ace. Cage. Now, make them continuous.
Also, don't overlook the "T" words. Tact is a solid 4-letter find that many people miss because they are too busy looking for longer words. Tactic is another one. It’s right there!
Actionable Steps to Finish Today's Puzzle
If you’re still a few points short, try these specific moves:
- Check for repeats: Did you get both Acid and Acidic?
- Look for the "G" word: There is only one word starting with G. It involves a movement or a rhythm.
- Re-examine the "D" words: They mostly involve the act of making something smaller or less.
- Say the letters out loud: Sometimes phonetically saying "C-A-D-I" helps you find Cadaric (wait, no, that's not a word—see, even the pros get it wrong). Try Cicada instead.
To get that final push to Queen Bee, go back through the word grid above. If you know you're missing a 6-letter word starting with C, and you've already found Caging and Cicada, start trial-and-error with the remaining letters. Often, the word you're missing is a simple one that your brain has just decided to ignore for the day.
Check the "Bee Buddy" on the NYT site if you want the specific three-letter starts for every word. It’s the ultimate way to narrow down those last two or three pesky entries without feeling like you've completely cheated your way to the top.