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.
BABY
BAE
BOO
CREAK
GOTCHA
GUESS WHO
HISS
HUMOR
INDULGE
PAMPER
RATTLE
SEE
SHED
SLITHER
STRAIGHT
SURPRISE
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
MOLLYCODDLEStraightforward
THINGS A RATTLESNAKE DOESModerate
WORDS SAID TO AN UNSUSPECTING PERSONTricky
HOMOPHONES OF BODIES OF WATERDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
MOLLYCODDLEStraightforward
WAYS TO SPOIL OR OVERINDULGE SOMEONE+ 3 more…
THINGS A RATTLESNAKE DOESModerate
ACTIONS PERFORMED BY A DESERT REPTILE+ 3 more…
WORDS SAID TO AN UNSUSPECTING PERSONTricky
EXCLAMATIONS MEANT TO STARTLE OR SURPRISE SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T SEE YOU COMING+ 3 more…
HOMOPHONES OF BODIES OF WATERDevious
THEY SOUND LIKE BODIES OF WATER BUT ARE SPELLED DIFFERENTLY+ 3 more…
Full solution
MOLLYCODDLEStraightforward
BABY,HUMOR,INDULGE,PAMPER
BABY, HUMOR, INDULGE, and PAMPER are all synonyms meaning to mollycoddle — to excessively spoil or overindulge someone.
THINGS A RATTLESNAKE DOESModerate
HISS,RATTLE,SHED,SLITHER
HISS, RATTLE, SHED, and SLITHER are all things a rattlesnake does — it hisses, rattles its tail, sheds its skin, and slithers along the ground.
WORDS SAID TO AN UNSUSPECTING PERSONTricky
BOO,GOTCHA,GUESS WHO,SURPRISE
BOO, GOTCHA, GUESS WHO, and SURPRISE are all things you might say to catch someone off guard, typically during a surprise or prank.
HOMOPHONES OF BODIES OF WATERDevious
BAE,CREAK,SEE,STRAIGHT
BAE (bay), CREAK (creek), SEE (sea), and STRAIGHT (strait) are homophones of bodies of water — they sound identical to bay, creek, sea, and strait respectively.