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NYT Spelling Bee

March 16, 2026

N
C
E
G
I
L
X

Puzzle Statistics

38
Total Words
225
Total Points
1
Pangrams
7
Letters

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About This Puzzle

Welcome to the complete solution guide for the New York Times Spelling Bee puzzle from March 16, 2026! This puzzle challenges you to find 38 words using the letters NCEGILX, with N as the center letter that must appear in every word.

The Spelling Bee is a daily word puzzle where players create words using a set of 7 unique letters arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The center letter must be included in every word, and each word must be at least 4 letters long. This puzzle contains 1 pangrams - special words that use all 7 letters.

Looking for today's answers? Our complete solution reveals all words organized by length, with pangrams highlighted. The total possible score for this puzzle is 225 points.

🔤 Tips & Strategies for Solving Spelling Bee

1. Start with the Center Letter

Remember that the center letter (N) must appear in every word. Start by brainstorming words that prominently feature this letter.

2. Look for Common Endings

Try adding common suffixes like -ING, -ED, -ER, -LY to your base words. Many puzzles include multiple forms of the same root word.

3. Hunt for Pangrams

Pangrams use all 7 letters and give bonus points. They're often longer, compound words, or less common terms. Don't give up on finding all 1 pangrams!

4. Think of Word Families

If you find one word, think of related words. For example, if you find "BOOK", look for "BOOKS", "BOOKED", "BOOKING".

5. Use Letter Frequency

Some letters appear more frequently than others. Build around common letters and don't forget about less obvious combinations.

All 38 Answers (225 Points)

4-Letter Words (7)

GENE
GLEN
LIEN
LINE
NENE
NICE
NINE

5-Letter Words (7)

CLING
GENIE
GENII
ICING
INNIE
LINEN
NIECE

6-Letter Words (7)

CLINIC
EGGING
ENGINE
INNING
LINING
NIGGLE
NIXING

7-Letter Words (8)

CEILING
EXILING
GELLING
GIGGING
GILLING
GINNING
INCLINE
LEGGING

8-Letter Words (5)

CLINGING
GIGGLING
LENIENCE
NEGLIGEE
NIGGLING

9-Letter Words (2)

EXCELLING 🌟
INCLINING

10-Letter Words (2)

EXCELLENCE
NEGLIGENCE