NYT Spelling Bee Answers Today (August 23, 2026)
NYT Spelling Bee Answers for August 23, 2026
🐝 Today's Pangram
Full Solution List
4 Letters
5 Letters
6 Letters
7 Letters
8 Letters
9 Letters
💡 2-Letter Hint Grid
Use this grid to see how many words start with each 2-letter combination.
Table of Contents
Puzzle Overview
Today’s Spelling Bee centers on the letter M, surrounded by B, E, I, N, T, and U. This is a moderately challenging puzzle with a solid mix of common words and some less obvious finds that separate casual players from serious ones.
Quick Puzzle Breakdown (No Spoilers)
- Center Letter: M (must appear in every word)
- Outer Letters: B, E, I, N, T, U
- Total Valid Words: 37
- Pangram Available: Yes, one clear solution
How to Solve Today’s Puzzle
Finding Your First Words
Start with short, common words using the center M. Words like MINT, MITE, TIME, and MIME are accessible entry points. Once you find a few three and four-letter combinations, the pattern becomes clearer. The presence of B, E, I, and N together opens up possibilities with double or triple letters.
The Tricky Parts
Today’s puzzle rewards knowing less common words. MINUTEMEN (plural of the historical Revolutionary War militia) is a seven-letter find that uses the center M multiple times. MUUMUU (the Hawaiian garment) uses all outer letters plus M and appears twice in the letter set, making it findable but easily overlooked. NIMBI (plural of nimbus, referring to halos or clouds) is another word that trips up solvers unfamiliar with Latin-based plurals. BENUMB (to make numb) and IMBUE (to permeate with a quality) are solid mid-length words worth hunting for.
All Answers and the Pangram
Today’s Pangram
BITUMEN – A viscous black substance used in road paving and roofing. This word uses all seven available letters and is the key to unlocking the puzzle’s full potential.
Complete Answer List
- BENUMB – to numb or deaden sensation
- BIENNIUM – a two-year period
- BITUMEN – asphalt material
- EMINENT – distinguished or prominent
- EMIT – to give off or discharge
- IMBIBE – to drink or absorb
- IMBUE – to permeate with quality
- IMMINENT – about to happen
- IMMUNE – resistant to disease
- ITEM – a single thing
- MEET – to encounter
- MEME – a unit of cultural information
- MENTEE – a person being mentored
- MENU – a list of food options
- METE – to distribute or allot
- MIEN – a person’s appearance or manner
- MIME – a silent performer
- MINE – excavation or belonging to me
- MINI – very small
- MINIM – a unit of liquid measure
- MINIMUM – the lowest amount
- MINT – the plant or coin factory
- MINUET – a slow, graceful dance
- MINUTE – sixty seconds or very small
- MINUTEMEN – Revolutionary War militia members
- MITE – a tiny creature or amount
- MITT – a glove
- MITTEN – a hand covering
- MUTE – silent
- MUTT – a mixed-breed dog
- MUUMUU – a Hawaiian garment
- NIMBI – plural of nimbus (halos)
- NUMB – lacking sensation
- TEEM – to be full of
- TENEMENT – a residential building
- TIME – the progression of moments
- UNMET – not satisfied
- UNMUTE – to restore sound
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the pangram for today’s puzzle? BITUMEN uses all seven letters (B, I, T, U, M, E, N) and refers to the sticky black substance used in road construction.
- Why is MINUTEMEN so hard to spot? It’s a seven-letter word using M three times, but most solvers don’t think of the historical plural form immediately. Breaking it into MINUTE + MEN helps.
- Is MUUMUU really a valid Spelling Bee word? Yes. It’s the Hawaiian word for a loose-fitting garment and appears in standard English dictionaries. The double U makes it memorable once you find it.
Final Thoughts
Today’s puzzle is a solid Sunday challenge that benefits from knowing both common words and some literary or historical terms. The M-centered setup creates natural clusters, so working through variations of MINT, TIME, and MINUTE will unlock most of the board. As the WordFinder Tips team noted, the best strategy remains writing down every valid combination you find, even the short ones, because they often lead to longer words you might have missed.
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📅 Past 15 Spelling Bee Pangrams
- August 22, 2026curtain, taciturn
- August 20, 2026quoting
- August 19, 2026provolone
- August 18, 2026headbang, headbanged
- August 17, 2026prodigy
- August 16, 2026becloud, beclouded
- August 15, 2026radicchio
- August 14, 2026admitting, intimidating, mandating
- August 13, 2026halcyon
- August 12, 2026weighty
- August 11, 2026elementally, mentally
- August 10, 2026glamour
- August 9, 2026chocolate, echolocate
- August 8, 2026multilevel
