The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ABDGLYU

Friday, February 20, 2026

Words
28
Points
100
Genius
70
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 28 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • baud

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bubba

    noun — Brother; used as term of familiar address.

    noun — A working-class white male from the southern US, stereotyped as loutish.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • bubbly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • buddy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • buggy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bulb

    noun — Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.

    verb — To take the shape of a bulb; to swell.

    noun — A light bulb.

    noun — The bulb-shaped root portion of a plant such as a tulip, from which the rest of the plant may be regrown.

    noun — A bulbous protuberance at the forefoot of certain vessels to reduce turbulence.

    noun — The medulla oblongata.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • bulgy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bull

    noun — An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen.

    adjective — Large and strong, like a bull.

    noun — The centre of a target, inside the inner and magpie.

    noun — The faeces of a bull.

    verb — To force oneself (in a particular direction).

    noun — A papal bull, an official document or edict from the Pope.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • bully

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • daub

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • dual

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • dually

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • dull

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 10 recorded puzzles.

  • dully

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • duly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • gaudy

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • glug

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • gulag

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • gull

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • gully

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • ladybug

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • laud

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • laudably

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • luau

    noun — An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • lull

    noun — A period of rest or soothing.

    verb — To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm

    noun — A period of reduced activity; a respite

    noun — A period without waves or wind.

    noun — An extended pause between sets of waves.

    verb — To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.

    Appeared in 20 recorded puzzles.

  • lullaby

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • lulu

    noun — A remarkable person, object or idea.

    noun — A very attractive or alluring person.

    noun — A very bad mistake or error.

    noun — A fixed allowance paid to a legislator in lieu of reimbursement for actual expenses.

    Appeared in 20 recorded puzzles.

  • ugly

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

ladybug is a perfect pangram — all seven letters, each used exactly once.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ba×1
  • bu×8
  • da×1
  • du×5
  • ga×1
  • gl×1
  • gu×3
  • la×3
  • lu×4
  • ug×1

Words by first letter and length

45678Σ
b 351·· 9
d 411·· 6
g 23··· 5
l 4··21 7
u 1···· 1
Σ 149221 28

The numbers

Genius today takes 70 points of 100 available. The average answer runs 4.8 letters.

Total points vs. all 383 recorded puzzles
5th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
10th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17359 recorded answers

414 today34.7% all-time59 today22.8% all-time62 today19.9% all-time72 today12.1% all-time81 today6.3% all-time92.6% all-time101.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Thursday, February 19, 2026 Monday, February 16, 2026
b Monday, February 16, 2026 Sunday, February 1, 2026
d Wednesday, February 18, 2026 Monday, January 26, 2026
g Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Thursday, January 22, 2026
l Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Friday, February 13, 2026
u ● Friday, February 13, 2026 Saturday, December 27, 2025
y Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Saturday, February 7, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 42
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 29
  5. toot 28
  6. loll 28
  7. mama 25
  8. mamma 25
  9. cocoon 23
  10. loon 23
  11. nene 23
  12. acacia 22
  13. acai 22
  14. bill 22
  15. neon 22
  16. none 22
  17. olio 22
  18. aria 21
  19. onto 21
  20. toon 21
  21. cancan 21
  22. canna 21
  23. lull 20
  24. lulu 20
  25. lilt 20

Valid words the Bee rejected

Dictionary words the Bee never takes

Legitimate words (per the ENABLE list) that fit the letters but aren't official answers — usually judged too obscure.