Letter Boxed July 19, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a strategic approach to connect the letters across different sides of the board. Solvers had to think creatively to find a chain that used all twelve letters. The official chain was a clever combination of a jewelry term and a landscaping concept.

The board that was printed

Twelve letters, three to a side. A word could hop from any side to any other but never twice in a row from the same side, and each word had to start on the letter the last one ended on.

  • TopURB
  • RightOAE
  • BottomJXS
  • LeftICP

Par is 6 words. This board accepts 1357 words in total.

Letter Boxed hints, one rung at a time

Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the chain, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

  1. Hint 1: How the board wanted to be attacked

    Method only — no word from the chain.

    The board has a mix of common and uncommon letters. Look for a starting word that uses a common letter with multiple connections. The letters 'U', 'O', and 'I' appear in multiple sides, making them good targets. Avoid starting with a word that uses only letters from one side.

  2. Hint 2: Board facts: letters, par and how many words fitted

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    U · R · B
    Right side
    O · A · E
    Bottom side
    J · X · S
    Left side
    I · C · P
    Par
    6 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    1357
  3. Hint 3: The opening word, without naming it

    The first word has 6 letters and starts with a commonly used letter in many words, often found in jewelry or decorative items.

  4. Hint 4: How long the opening word was, and where it started
    Opening word
    6 letters, starts with B
    Word 2
    9 letters
  5. Hint 5: The opening word itself

    The recap above already named it; this rung is for a replay.

    Word 1
    BIJOUX
  6. Hint 6: What each remaining word had to do

    Last rung before the full chain.

    Each word after the first began on the letter the previous one ended on, and between them they covered all 12 letters.

    Word 2
    9 letters, starts with X

Every word of that day's chain

All the words, folded. Each one stays hidden until you open it.

  • Word 1 · 6 letters

    BIJOUX

    A small, decorative jewelry item, often used to describe a brooch or pendant, clearing 'B', 'I', 'J', 'O', 'U', 'X'.

  • Word 2 · 9 letters

    XERISCAPE

    A type of landscaping that uses drought-resistant plants, clearing 'X', 'E', 'R', 'I', 'S', 'C', 'A', 'P'.

Other chains that solved that board

Any chain using all twelve letters, each word starting where the last ended, was a win. These came out of that board's own word list, so every one of them was playable.

  • Alternate chain 1 · 2 words

    BIJOUXXERISCAPER

  • Alternate chain 2 · 2 words

    PUJARISSCOREBOX

  • Alternate chain 3 · 3 words

    ABACCARCAJOUSSPARAXISES

This board by the numbers

Date
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
6 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
1357 on this board
Other chains we verified
3

More Letter Boxed

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