The New York Times Spelling Bee puzzle for January 1, 2026 kicks off the year with a thoughtful mix of letters. As always, every word must be at least four letters long and must include the center letter. Today’s set blends sharp consonants with just enough vowels, creating a puzzle that feels fair at first glance but rewards patience and pattern-spotting as you go.
About today’s puzzle
With N sitting at the center, today’s hive leans toward longer, more structured words. The mix isn’t overly vowel-heavy, but the presence of A and I keeps things flexible. It feels moderately open, though some letter pairings take effort to unlock, especially if you’re chasing longer words.
NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: 1 January 2026
Here’s a best-effort list of words that fit today’s rules. Keep in mind: some are rare or unusual, so the official NYT list may vary.
- ANTI
- ANTIC
- ANVIL
- CANAL
- CANNILY
- CANTINA
- INLAY
- LANCINATE
- NATAL
- NATION
- TALLYING
- TINY
- TYING
Pangram of the day
Today’s pangram is analytic. It works beautifully because it uses every letter in the hive while still feeling like a natural, everyday word. The word flows well, repeats nothing unnecessarily, and highlights how versatile the center letter N is when combined with both vowels and sharper consonants.
Quick tactics for any puzzle
- Start with the center letter
- Play with prefixes and suffixes
- Anagram your discoveries
- Use repeated letters
- Begin with easy 4-letter words
Final thoughts
This January 1 puzzle is a calm but satisfying way to start the year. Whether you stopped at the basics or chased every last word, it’s a hive that rewards curiosity. How many did you find—and did analytic jump out early for you?
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