NYT Spelling Bee Answers Today: May 18, 2026

NYT Spelling Bee Answers Today: May 18, 2026

Edited by Sam Ezersky • Solved by WordFinder Tips

NYT Spelling Bee Answers May 18, 2026

🐝 Today's Pangram

CLICK TO REVEAL PANGRAM
A C H P T U Z

Full Solution List

4 Letters

CHAPPACTPAPAPATHPHATPUPAPUTTPUTZTAPA

5 Letters

CUPPACUTUPPATCH

7 Letters

CAPTCHACATCHUPCHUPPAH

8 Letters

CHUTZPAH

💡 2-Letter Hint Grid

Use this grid to see how many words start with each 2-letter combination.

CA2
CH3
CU2
PA4
PH1
PU3
TA1

Table of Contents

Today’s Puzzle Overview

Monday morning brings a fresh set of letters to your screen. Today, the center letter is P. You must use this letter in every single word you find. The surrounding letters include A, C, H, T, U, and Z. This combination offers a mix of common consonants and one very high-value letter that changes the entire dynamic of the grid. Here at WordFinder Tips, we found today’s puzzle requires a bit of “nerve” to solve completely.

The total word count for today is relatively low compared to some massive Sunday grids. You only need to find 16 words to clear the list. However, the presence of the letter Z makes things interesting. You will notice many words rely on the “CH” and “PH” letter combinations. Keep your eyes peeled for short, punchy words that use the center P. While the list is short, the vocabulary is specific and leans into some fun cultural terms.

Deep Mechanic Analysis for Today

The Pangram Breakdown

The star of today’s show is the pangram CHUTZPAH. This word uses every single letter in the hive at least once. It comes from Yiddish and describes someone with an incredible amount of audacity or guts. If you have the chutzpah to tell your boss they are wrong, you have exactly what this word describes. In the context of the game, it is a high-scoring word that immediately boosts your rank toward Genius. It perfectly utilizes the Z and the H, which often sit unused in simpler puzzles.

High-Value Word Clusters

Today’s grid relies heavily on the “CH” sound. Because C, H, and P are all available, you can build several words around this cluster. You will find words like CHUPPAH and CAPTCHA. These words are not your everyday vocabulary, but they are essential for reaching the Queen Bee status. Another cluster involves the “T” and “A” letters. You can form several four-letter words by simply swapping the vowels or adding a consonant at the end. Look for patterns where the P starts the word versus where it ends the word.

Specific Traps & Red Herrings

The biggest trap today involves words that look like they fit but lack the center letter. You might see “HATCH,” “CATCH,” or “THATCH” and feel tempted to type them in. Resist that urge! Without the P, the game will reject them. Another trap is the word “PHAT.” While it sounds like slang from the 90s, the New York Times often accepts it in their word list. Do not ignore it just because it feels informal. Also, watch out for “PAPA.” It is so simple that many players overlook it while searching for more complex terms.

Today’s Solutions

We have compiled the spelling bee answers today to help you finish your grid. Here is the breakdown of the words you need to find, along with a look at what they actually mean.

CHUTZPAH: This is your pangram. It means supreme self-confidence or impudence. It is the most valuable word in today’s set.

CAPTCHA: You see these every day on the internet. It stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.” It is those annoying boxes where you have to click on all the traffic lights to prove you are not a robot.

CATCHUP: This is a variant spelling of the red tomato sauce we put on fries. While “ketchup” is more common, the game accepts this version as well.

CHUPPAH: This word refers to a canopy beneath which Jewish marriage ceremonies are performed. It uses the H, U, and P letters multiple times.

CUPPA: A very British way to say “a cup of tea.” It is a short, informal word that is easy to miss if you are not thinking about slang.

CUTUP: This refers to someone who is a bit of a clown or a jokester. It can also literally mean to cut something into pieces.

PUTZ: This is another Yiddish-derived word. It usually refers to a stupid or worthless person. It is a great way to use that Z.

PHAT: In slang terms, this means “excellent” or “cool.” It was very popular in hip-hop culture and remains a valid word in the nytimes spelling bee answers.

TAPA: This refers to a cloth made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree, common in the Pacific islands. It is also a small Spanish appetizer, though that is usually pluralized as “tapas.”

PUPA: This is a biological term. It describes an insect in its inactive immature form between larvae and adult, like a chrysalis.

PAPA, PATCH, PATH, PACT, CHAP, PUTT: These are your bread-and-butter words. They are shorter and use common English structures. PAPA is a father, PATCH is a small area or a mend, PATH is a walkway, PACT is an agreement, CHAP is a fellow, and PUTT is a golf stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the pangram for the spelling bee answers today? The pangram for today is CHUTZPAH, which uses all seven letters to describe someone with bold audacity.
  • Is CAPTCHA a valid word in the NYT Spelling Bee? Yes, the game accepts CAPTCHA as a valid word even though it originated as an acronym for internet security tests.
  • Why isn’t ‘HATCH’ one of the spelling bee answers? The word HATCH does not contain the center letter P, which is a mandatory requirement for every word in the puzzle.