The New York Times Spelling Bee for January 16, 2026 delivers a satisfying mix of familiar and tricky paths. As always, every valid word must be at least four letters long and include the center letter. Today’s letter set feels balanced but deceptive, offering smooth common words alongside a few longer stretches that reward patience and pattern-spotting.

About today’s puzzle

With C locked in the center, today’s hive leans consonant-heavy but stays flexible thanks to helpful vowels. The mix allows clean four-letter starters while still supporting longer builds. Overall, the puzzle feels open once you get momentum, though certain letter pairings take time to unlock.

NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: January 16, 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.

  • ACAI
  • ACACIA
  • ACCLAIM
  • ACME
  • CAFE
  • CALF
  • CALL
  • CALLA
  • CALM
  • CAMI
  • CELIAC
  • CELL
  • CELLI
  • CILIA
  • CLAIM
  • CLAM
  • CLEF
  • CLIFF
  • LILAC
  • MACE
  • MALIC
  • MALICE
  • MECCA
  • MICA
  • MICE
  • MIMIC

Pangram of the day

MALEFIC is today’s standout because it cleanly pulls together every letter in the hive while still feeling like a real, usable word. It threads vowels and consonants smoothly, avoids awkward repetition, and lands right in that sweet spot between challenging and fair. Spotting it often opens the door to several shorter offshoots.

Quick tactics for any puzzle

  1. Start with the center letter.
    Since every word must include it, try building short “roots” with that letter first, then expand.
  2. Play with prefixes and suffixes.
    Look for common starters (like re-, pre-, tri-) and endings (like -er, -ry, -ing). These patterns often unlock multiple words.
  3. Anagram your discoveries.
    Once you’ve found a word, shuffle its letters around — you’ll often uncover two or three more.
  4. Use repeated letters.
    Remember, the same letter can appear more than once. Doubling letters opens up words you might otherwise overlook.
  5. Hunt for pangrams.
    Try to use all seven letters at least once. Pangrams aren’t always easy, but when you find one, it feels like striking gold.

Habits to sharpen your skills

  • Begin with easy 4-letter words to get your brain moving.
  • Rotate vowels and consonants through different combinations to see what “clicks.”
  • Step away and return later — fresh eyes will catch words you missed.

Optional tools if you want extra help

  • Pen and paper. Writing the letters down or sketching patterns can reveal hidden words.
  • Word-finding apps. Great for study or practice, but use sparingly if you want to keep the challenge.
  • Personal word journal. Track words you miss often — over time, you’ll train yourself to recognize them quickly.

Wrap up

This puzzle rewards steady exploration rather than rushing. If you chipped away patiently, the word list really opens up. How many did you find today—and did MALEFIC jump out early, or make you work for it?