Today’s NYT Spelling Bee puzzle was a rewarding one that combined familiar short words with a longer, more elegant pangram. With Y fixed at the center, every valid word needed to revolve around that letter, and the surrounding letters encouraged thoughtful rearrangement rather than quick guessing.

This was a puzzle where progress felt steady, but the real satisfaction came when the full letter set finally clicked into place.

Today’s Letter Set

• Center letter: Y

• Outer letters: T, R, L, A, O, P

As always, Spelling Bee rules apply:

• Words must be at least four letters long

• Every word must include the center letter Y

• Only the given letters may be used

• Letters may be repeated

Pangram solving tips

How I Solved Today’s Puzzle

I started by identifying simple four-letter words to understand the grid. Words like PLAY, PRAY, TRAY, and POLY came quickly and confirmed that the puzzle leaned toward clear, everyday English.

Next, I explored longer descriptive words, especially nouns ending in -AL, since letters like A, L, and Y often work together in that structure. Rearranging the letters repeatedly, I noticed that PORT and TRAY-style fragments appeared naturally when grouped together.

At that point, I stepped back and rearranged all seven letters together, allowing repetition. That’s when a longer, very natural word stood out—one that used every letter in the grid and fit the tone of the puzzle perfectly.

Today’s Pangram

PORTRAYAL — Pangram

This word uses all seven letters:

P · O · R · T · R · A · Y · A · L

Portrayal means the act of representing or depicting something, and it’s a classic NYT Spelling Bee pangram:

• Common and recognizable

• Built from familiar base words

• Slightly hidden until all letters are considered together

Once spotted, it clearly confirms itself as today’s complete solution.

All Possible Spelling Bee Answers 

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

4 LETTER WORDS

• ALLY
• ARTY
• OATY
• PLAY
• PLOY
• PRAY
• PYRO
• ROPY
• TRAY
• TROY
• TYPO
• TYRO

5 LETTER WORDS

• ALLAY
• ALLOY
• APPLY
• APTLY
• ARRAY
• LOOPY
• LORRY
• LOYAL
• PAPPY
• PARRY
• PARTY
• PATLY
• PATTY
• POLYP
• POPPY
• POTTY
• RALLY
• RATTY
• ROYAL
• TALLY
• TARRY
• TATTY
• YAPPY

6 LETTER WORDS

• ARROYO
• ORALLY
• PALTRY
• PARLAY
• PARTLY
• PAYOLA
• PAPAYA
• POORLY
• PORTLY
• RAPTLY
• RATTLY
• ROTARY
• TARTLY

7+ LETTER WORDS

• PORTRAYAL  (pangram)

• LOYALLY
• LOYALTY
• ORATORY
• PAPALLY
• PAYROLL
• PORTRAY
• ROTATORY
• ROYALLY
• ROYALTY
• TOTALLY

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

Solving Tips That Worked Today

• Build from short words first: PLAY and TRAY helped anchor the grid.

• Look for -AL endings: They often hide longer solutions.

• Rearrange all letters together: The pangram didn’t appear through incremental guessing.

• Trust familiar nouns: NYT often favors clean, descriptive vocabulary.

A Look Back at the Challenge

The January 17, 2026 Spelling Bee puzzle was a great example of how simple letters can hide a refined solution. Discovering PORTRAYAL as the pangram felt natural and rewarding, especially after building confidence through the shorter words.

If you enjoy solving daily Spelling Bee puzzles—or want to sharpen your ability to spot pangrams and expand your vocabulary—Spelling Better turns spelling practice into a fun, competitive learning experience with daily challenges, real-time matches, flashcards, and smart word games.

Happy spelling, and see you tomorrow!