Jump to a hint level
Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
← Back to hint toolLoad any date with the interactive hint ladder
Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
ALTERNATE
BACKUP
CONDENSE
COPPER
COVER
FANTASY
FREEZE
HACK
HERO
HONEY
MELT
SHRINK
SOMEDAY
SUB
SUIT
VAPORIZE
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
CHANGE STATES OF MATTERStraightforward
REPLACEMENTModerate
SLANGY NAMES FOR PROFESSIONSTricky
MARIAH CAREY NUMBER ONE HITSDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
CHANGE STATES OF MATTERStraightforward
WHAT ICE, STEAM, AND LAVA HAVE IN COMMON — THEY ALL STARTED SOMEWHERE ELSE+ 3 more…
REPLACEMENTModerate
WORDS FOR A STAND-IN OR PINCH HITTER+ 3 more…
SLANGY NAMES FOR PROFESSIONSTricky
NICKNAMES YOU MIGHT CALL A COP, A CABBIE, A THERAPIST, OR A CEO+ 3 more…
MARIAH CAREY NUMBER ONE HITSDevious
CHART-TOPPERS FROM THE QUEEN OF HIGH NOTES+ 3 more…
Full solution
CHANGE STATES OF MATTERStraightforward
CONDENSE,FREEZE,MELT,VAPORIZE
CONDENSE, FREEZE, MELT, and VAPORIZE are all processes by which matter changes from one physical state to another (solid, liquid, gas)
REPLACEMENTModerate
ALTERNATE,BACKUP,COVER,SUB
ALTERNATE, BACKUP, COVER, and SUB all mean a substitute or replacement for someone or something
SLANGY NAMES FOR PROFESSIONSTricky
COPPER,HACK,SHRINK,SUIT
COPPER (police officer), HACK (taxi driver), SHRINK (psychiatrist), and SUIT (business executive) are all slang terms for specific professions
MARIAH CAREY NUMBER ONE HITSDevious
FANTASY,HERO,HONEY,SOMEDAY
FANTASY, HERO, HONEY, and SOMEDAY are all Mariah Carey songs that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100