Updated October 22, 2026 at 9:55 AM ET for October 22, 2026. New hints go up when the puzzle changes at midnight Eastern time.
Today's Letter Boxed uses these twelve letters, three on each side of the box. Use them all in as few words as you can. Hints first, then the answer.
Hint 1: How many words you need
The New York Times solution uses 2 words. The game's target is 4 words or fewer. There are 5 two-word solutions in total in today's word list.
Hint 2: Word lengths
Word 1 has 8 letters, Word 2 has 5 letters.
Hint 3: What the words mean
- Word 1: The most important one out of a related group.
- Word 2: Rather fat; chubby.
Hint 4: First letters
Word 1 starts with F, Word 2 starts with P. Each word starts with the last letter of the one before it.
Show the first word
FLAGSHIP
Show the full solution
- FLAGSHIP
- PORKY
The New York Times solution for October 22, 2026 is FLAGSHIP then PORKY.
Letter Boxed deep dive
More about today's puzzle. Everything in this section can include the answer.
Every two-word solution
5 pairs in today's word list use all twelve letters:
- FLAGSHIP → PORKY
- POLYGRAPH → HIPFLASK
- POLYGRAPH → HIPFLASKS
- ARGYROPHILIA → AFAKASI
- ARGYROPHILIA → AFAKASIS
The longest words on today's board
ARGYROPHILIA, PARAGRAPHIAS, PARAPHRASIAS, PROSOPALGIAS, HOLOPHRASIS, PARAGRAPHIA, PARAPHRASIA, PARAPHRASIS, PHILOSOPHIA, POROPOROAKI, PROSOPALGIA, ARGYROPHIL
The game accepts 808 words today.
Yesterday's answer (October 21, 2026)
TURQUOISE then EVINCED. Yesterday's hints
Play today's Letter Boxed at The New York Times
Recent Letter Boxed hints
Letter Boxed questions
How does Letter Boxed work?
You get twelve letters, three on each side of a square. Make words by joining letters, but two letters in a row can never come from the same side. Each new word starts with the last letter of the word before it, and you win when every letter is used.
How many words should I use?
The game sets a target number of words each day, usually between three and six. The New York Times solution is almost always two words.
Can letters be used more than once?
Yes. A letter can appear as often as you like, as long as consecutive letters come from different sides.
When does the new Letter Boxed come out?
A new Letter Boxed puzzle appears every day. Our page goes up as soon as the new puzzle is live on the New York Times site.
Why is a real word rejected?
The game uses its own word list, which leaves out proper nouns, hyphenated words and some rare or offensive words. Words must be at least three letters long.