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For the Monday, February 16, 2026, NYT Spelling Bee, the seven letters are A, B, C, K, M, O and R, with A in the center. Start with the hints below; the complete answer list is farther down behind a spoiler warning.
Hints for the February 16 puzzle
Letters and rules
Use the letters A, B, C, K, M, O and R. Every answer must include the center letter A and contain at least four letters. The dated WePC guide also notes that proper nouns and hyphenated words are excluded.
Starting-letter clues
WePC reports these counts by opening letters: BA- (13 words), CA- (5), CO- (5), MA- (9), CR- (4) and AR- (4).
Pangram clue
The guide identifies one pangram: an eight-letter compound beginning with “back.”
#1 Best Overall
February 16, 2026 answers
Spoilers below: the following list reveals the answers.
The nytbee.com archive lists 57 answers for this puzzle:
ABACK, AMMO, AMOK, ARBOR, ARCO, ARMOR, AROMA, BABA, BABKA, BACK, BACKCOMB, BACKROOM, BAMBOO, BAOBAB, BARB, BARBACK, BARBACOA, BARK, BARRACK, BARROOM, BOAR, BOBA, BOOKMARK, BOOKRACK, CACAO, CAMO, CARB, CAROB, CAROM, COBRA, COCA, COCOA, COMA, COMMA, CRAB, CRACK, CRAM, CROAK, KABOB, KABOOM, KARMA, KORMA, MACRO, MAKO, MAMA, MAMBA, MAMBO, MAMMA, MARACA, MARK, MARM, MOMMA, OKRA, ORCA, RACK, ROAM, ROAR.
Scoring and pangram
The nytbee.com archive reports a maximum score of 221 points and says 155 points are needed for Genius. It identifies BACKROOM as the puzzle’s only pangram. WePC separately reports five 8-letter answers and three 7-letter answers.
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These figures and answers come from third-party puzzle reference pages, not an NYT-hosted answer source located for this guide. The archive also displays additional valid dictionary words outside its answer list, explaining that the NYT considers them obscure or offensive; that explanation is the archive’s, and is not independently verified here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 100 First Words for Early Learners – Includes 50 word cards (100 words total) to help kids practice beginner spelling and vocabulary in a fun, approachable way.
- Hands-On Spelling with Wooden Letter Dice – Features 10 wooden letter dice for building words, letter recognition, and tactile learning play.
- 5 Ways to Play – Comes with instructions for five different games, including spelling challenges and word scrambles for variety and repeat play.
- Great for Solo or Group Learning – Designed for independent play or family/classroom fun, helping kids learn through both self-guided and social play.
- Organized & Easy Cleanup – Includes a card holder and storage bag to keep everything neat, portable, and ready for the next learning session.
Rank #4
- Buzzing Word Fun: Roll the letter dice and race to build dice words—longer words earn more points for a fast, exciting spelling game.
- Complete Set: Includes 26 lettered dice and easy-to-follow instructions so you can start your alphabet dice game in minutes.
- Learn While You Play: A smart word spelling game that boosts vocabulary, spelling, and quick thinking—great educational travel game for kids and adults.
- Perfect for Groups: Designed for 2–8 players, ages 6 and up—an engaging game for kids, family game nights, parties, after-school clubs, and a handy dice game for teachers.
- Pack-and-Play: Compact components make it an ideal travel dice game; take this portable travel game anywhere for on-the-go fun.
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