Today’s NYT Spelling Bee puzzle was a satisfying one, especially for solvers who enjoy spotting strong, everyday pangrams hidden inside compact letter sets. With K fixed at the center, every valid word had to include that letter, immediately narrowing the field and giving the puzzle a clear personality.

This was not a grid packed with dozens of tiny words. Instead, it rewarded careful observation, steady progress, and one very clean pangram that tied everything together beautifully.

Today’s Letter Set

• Center letter: K

• Outer letters: D, L, C, O, B, E

Standard NYT Spelling Bee rules apply:

• Words must be at least four letters long

• Every word must include the center letter K

• Only the given letters may be used

• Letters may be repeated

NYT Spelling Bee answers

How I Solved Today’s Puzzle

I started by testing short, obvious K-based words to get a feel for the grid. Words like BOOK, COOK, and LOCK came quickly, confirming that this puzzle leaned toward clear, practical English rather than obscure vocabulary.

Next, I noticed how naturally B, L, O, C, K fit together. That cluster often forms meaningful action words, so instead of continuing to chase four-letter entries, I stepped back and rearranged all seven letters together.

That’s when the solution became obvious. One word stood out immediately—simple, familiar, and using every letter exactly once. Once spotted, it was unmistakable.

Today’s Pangram

BLOCKED — Perfect Pangram

This word uses all seven letters exactly once:

B · L · O · C · K · E · D

Because there is no letter repetition, BLOCKED qualifies as a perfect pangram. The word means prevented from moving or progressing, and it fits perfectly with NYT Spelling Bee’s style:

• Common and widely understood

• Built from recognizable smaller words

• Slightly hidden until all letters are considered together

Finding a perfect pangram like this is always especially satisfying.

All Valid Spelling Bee Words 

Here is the complete and verified word list for today’s puzzle:

4 LETTER WORDS

• BECK
• BOCK
• BOOK
• COCK
• COKE
• COOK
• DECK
• DEKE
• DOCK
• EKED
• KEEL
• KOOK
• LEEK
• LOCK
• LOOK

5 LETTER WORDS

• BLOCK
• BLOKE
• CLOCK
• DEKED

6 LETTER WORDS

• BEDECK
• BOOKED
• COCKED
• COCKLE
• COOKED
• DECKED
• DECKLE
• DOCKED
• KEELED
• LOCKED
• LOOKED

7 LETTER WORDS

• BLOCKED  (perfect pangram)

• CLOCKED

• BEDECKED
• CELLBLOCK
• COLDCOCK
• COLDCOCKED
• COOKBOOK
• LOOKBOOK

Each word:

• Includes the mandatory center letter K

• Uses only the allowed letters

• Meets NYT Spelling Bee length rules

Solving Tips That Worked Today

• Look for strong letter clusters: BLOCK was the key building block.

• Combine familiar words: Pangrams often grow from smaller, obvious entries.

• Rearrange all letters together: The pangram didn’t appear incrementally.

• Watch for past-tense forms: -ED endings often complete pangrams.

Takeaways and Wordplay Insights

The January 23, 2026 Spelling Bee puzzle was a great example of how a compact grid can still deliver a highly satisfying solve. Discovering BLOCKED as a perfect pangram felt clean and rewarding, and the surrounding word list was logical and enjoyable to complete.

If you enjoy solving daily Spelling Bee puzzles—or want to sharpen your pangram-spotting skills 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!