Today’s NYT Spelling Bee puzzle was a classic example of how a simple-looking grid can hide a very satisfying solution. With O fixed at the center, every valid word needed to include that vowel, and the surrounding letters formed a set that leaned strongly toward nouns and descriptive words rather than action-heavy verbs.

This was not a puzzle where the pangram revealed itself immediately. Instead, it rewarded steady progress—starting small, spotting patterns, and then finally rearranging all the letters together.

Today’s Letter Set

• Center letter: O

• Outer letters: N, C, W, L, A, E

As always, standard NYT Spelling Bee rules apply:

• Words must be at least four letters long

• Every word must include the center letter O

• Only the given letters may be used

• Letters may be repeated

How to find hidden words in Spelling Bee

How I Solved Today’s Puzzle

I began by identifying easy, familiar four-letter words to understand the grid. Words like LOAN, COAL, CONE, and ONCE appeared quickly and confirmed that the puzzle leaned toward everyday English rather than obscure terminology.

Next, I noticed how often ALLO-, LOW-, and -ANCE style patterns can appear when letters like A, L, N, C, and E are present. That observation helped me stop chasing small words and instead focus on longer noun-based constructions.

At that point, I stepped back and rearranged all seven letters together, allowing repetition. When viewed as a complete set, one word stood out clearly—clean, familiar, and commonly used. Once spotted, it was unmistakable.

Today’s Pangram

ALLOWANCE — Pangram

This word uses all seven letters from the puzzle:

A · L · L · O · W · A · N · C · E

Allowance means a permitted amount or an amount granted, and it fits perfectly with NYT Spelling Bee’s style:

• Common and widely understood

• Built from recognizable letter patterns

• Slightly hidden until all letters are considered together

Once identified, it clearly completes today’s puzzle and ties together many of the smaller words already found.

All Possible Spelling Bee Answers  

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

4 LETTER WORDS

• AEON
• ALOE
• ANON
• COAL
• COCA
• COLA
• CONE
• COOL
• COWL
• LOAN
• LOCO
• LOLL
• LONE
• LOON
• NEON
• NEOL
• NONE
• NOON
• OLEO
• ONCE
• WOOL

5 LETTER WORDS

• ALLOW
• ALONE
• CACAO
• CANON
• CANOE
• CELLO
• CLONE
• CLOWN
• COCOA
• COLON
• LLANO
• LOCAL
• NONCE
• OCEAN

6 LETTER WORDS

• CALLOW
• CANNON
• CANOLA
• CLOACA
• COCOON
• LOCALE
• NEOCON
• WOOLEN

7+ LETTER WORDS

• ALLOWANCE  (pangram)

• CALLALOO
• COLCANNON
• COLLEEN
• COLONEL
• CONCEAL
• NONLOCAL

Each word:

• Includes the mandatory center letter O

• Uses only the allowed letters

• Meets NYT Spelling Bee length rules

Solving Tips That Worked Today

• Start with simple nouns: LOAN and COAL helped anchor the grid.

• Look for common endings: -ANCE is a strong pangram signal.

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

• Trust everyday vocabulary: NYT often favors familiar, useful words.

Takeaway from Today’s Puzzle

The January 21, 2026 Spelling Bee puzzle was a reminder that clarity often hides behind simplicity. Discovering ALLOWANCE felt especially rewarding because it was both common and well hidden, making it a classic Spelling Bee pangram.

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!