Today’s NYT Spelling Bee puzzle looks simple at first glance, but it rewards careful observation and smart word-building. The center letter is O, and the surrounding letters are A, B, C, E, L, and P. As always, every valid word must include the center letter O, and letters may be reused.

After working through the grid systematically, the pangram for today is:

PLACEBO

This is a perfect pangram, using all seven letters at least once.

How pangrams work in NYT Spelling Bee

How I Solved Today’s Puzzle

I always start a Spelling Bee puzzle by locking onto the center letter. Since O is mandatory, I began scanning for familiar word endings like -BO, -CO, -LO, and -PO. That immediately led me to words such as bolo, cabo, and combo-style fragments, though only valid dictionary words count.

Next, I looked for longer constructions, especially those that might include rarer letters like B and P together. That’s when PLACEBO stood out. It’s a classic Spelling Bee-style pangram: common enough to recognize, but easy to miss if you don’t test combinations carefully.

Once the pangram is found, the rest of the word list usually opens up more easily.

Pangram of the Day

• PLACEBO

This word uses: P · L · A · C · E · B · O

Exactly what the puzzle demands.

Full Word List (Grouped)

Below is a comprehensive list of valid words you can form using today’s letters.

 4-Letter Words

• ALOE
• BLOB
• BLOC
• BOBA
• BOLA
• BOLL
• BOLO
• BOOB
• BOOP
• CAPO
• CLOP
• COAL
• COCA
• COLA
• COOL
• COOP
• COPE
• LOBE
• LOBO
• LOCO
• LOLL
• LOOP
• LOPE
• OBOE
• OLEO
• OPAL
• PLOP
• POLE
• POLO
• POLL
• POOL
• POPE
• POOP

 5-Letter Words

• BEBOP
• BLOOP
• BOCCE
• CACAO
• CELLO
• COCOA
• ELOPE
• LOCAL
• PALEO
• POPPA

6-Letter Words

• BAOBAB
• BOBBLE
• BOOBOO
• CLOACA
• COBBLE
• COLLAB
• LOCALE
• LOLLOP
• PEOPLE

 7+-Letter Words

• PLACEBO (Pangram)

• ALCOPOP
• ALLOCABLE
• CALLALOO

(Letter reuse is allowed, which is why “placebo” qualifies perfectly.)

Tips That Helped Today

• Always hunt for scientific or academic words – “placebo” is common in medical and psychology contexts.

• Pair uncommon letters early (like B + P). Pangrams often hide there.

• Build outward from short words – once you spot opal, cable, or bolo, longer words become easier to visualize.

Puzzle Reflections and Wins

The 14 January 2026 Spelling Bee puzzle is a satisfying mix of accessibility and challenge. Finding PLACEBO unlocks the grid and makes reaching Genius much smoother. If you enjoy puzzles that reward pattern recognition over brute force, today’s game is a great example.

If you want daily Spelling Bee solutions, pangram explanations, and smarter solving strategies, make sure you check back tomorrow.

Happy spelling.