Today’s NYT Spelling Bee puzzle was a satisfying blend of everyday vocabulary and elegant longer words. With C placed firmly at the center, every valid word had to be built around it, and the surrounding letters offered just enough flexibility to reward solvers who took the time to explore patterns rather than rush.

This was a puzzle where slowing down and thinking in word families made all the difference.

Today’s Letter Set

Center letter: C
Outer letters: I, R, L, U, O, N

Spelling Bee rules apply as usual:

• Words must be at least four letters long

• Every word must include the center letter C

• Only the given letters may be used (letters can repeat)

How to reach Genius in NYT Spelling Bee

How I Solved Today’s Puzzle

I started with short, familiar anchor words to understand how the grid behaved. Words like COIL, COIN, and ICON came quickly and helped confirm that the puzzle leaned toward clean, common English vocabulary.

Next, I explored C-heavy structures, especially words built around COL-, COU-, and UNI- patterns. When letters like U, N, and I appear together with C, they often signal something more refined hiding beneath the surface.

Instead of forcing guesses, I stepped back and rearranged all seven letters mentally. That’s when the first long, satisfying word appeared—one that used every letter naturally and felt unmistakably correct.

Today’s Pangrams

COUNCILOR
UNICOLOR

Both words use all seven letters — C, O, U, N, C, I, L, R (repeats allowed) — making them valid NYT Spelling Bee pangrams.

• Councilor refers to an elected official or advisor.

• Unicolor describes something of a single color.

Finding two pangrams in a single puzzle is always a treat, and today’s pair felt especially elegant and fair.

All Possible Spelling Bee Answers

Here is the complete and verified list of valid words for today’s puzzle:

• COUNCILOR  (pangram)

• UNICOLOR  (pangram)

• COIL
• COIN
• COIR
• COOL
• CORN
• CROC
• CULL
• CURL
• ICON
• LOCI
• LOCO
• URIC

• CIRRI
• COCCI
• COLIC
• COLON
• COLOR
• CONIC
• CROCI
• CROON
• CURIO
• INCUR
• IONIC
• OCCUR
• OCULI
• RICIN
• RUNIC

• CLINIC
• COCOON
• CONCUR
• ICONIC
• IRONIC
• NUNCIO
• ROCOCO
• UNCOIL
• UNCOOL
• UNCURL

• COLONIC
• COUNCIL
• UNICORN
• UNIRONIC

Each word includes the mandatory center letter C and follows NYT Spelling Bee rules.

Solving Tips That Worked Today

• Start with everyday nouns: Words like COIL and COLOR quickly map the grid.

• Look for prefixes: UNI- and COU- were strong signals today.

• Rearrange all letters together: Both pangrams appeared only when viewing the set holistically.

• Expect multiple pangrams: Balanced letter sets often hide more than one.

 Did You Spot the Pangram?

Today’s Spelling Bee puzzle was a great example of thoughtful design. The discovery of COUNCILOR and UNICOLOR as pangrams made the solve especially rewarding, and the surrounding word list stayed comfortably within familiar vocabulary without feeling boring.

If you enjoy solving daily Spelling Bee puzzles—or want to get better at spotting pangrams and expanding your vocabulary—Spelling Better turns wordplay into a fun, competitive learning experience with daily challenges, real-time matches, and smart word games.

Happy spelling, and see you tomorrow!