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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
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Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
CLOVE
FLAIL
FLIP
FLOP
FLOUNDER
KEY
LEAF
MACE
MAR
NUTMEG
PEPPER
RIFFLE
SPEAR
STYLE
TANK
THUMB
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
SPICESStraightforward
PERFORM POORLYModerate
SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGESTricky
POP SINGERS MINUS “S”Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
SPICESStraightforward
WARM ADDITIONS TO MULLED WINE OR HOLIDAY BAKING+ 3 more…
PERFORM POORLYModerate
WORDS FOR BOMBING ON STAGE OR STRUGGLING IN COMPETITION+ 3 more…
SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGESTricky
WHAT YOU DO QUICKLY WHEN BROWSING A BOOK OR MAGAZINE+ 3 more…
POP SINGERS MINUS “S”Devious
FAMOUS POP DIVAS WITH THEIR FINAL 'S' DROPPED+ 3 more…
Full solution
SPICESStraightforward
CLOVE,MACE,NUTMEG,PEPPER
CLOVE, MACE, NUTMEG, and PEPPER are all common spices used in cooking and flavoring.
PERFORM POORLYModerate
FLAIL,FLOP,FLOUNDER,TANK
FLAIL, FLOP, FLOUNDER, and TANK all mean to perform poorly or fail, especially in a performance or competition context.
SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGESTricky
FLIP,LEAF,RIFFLE,THUMB
FLIP, LEAF, RIFFLE, and THUMB all mean to quickly browse or skim through pages of a book or document.
POP SINGERS MINUS “S”Devious
KEY,MAR,SPEAR,STYLE
KEY(S), MAR(S = Mars?), SPEAR(S), and STYLE(S) are pop singers' surnames — Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift's alter-ego — with the letter S removed.