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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.
BEETLE
BIRD
BUG
COPY
CRAZE
CRICKET
ECHO
FAD
FEVER
GOLF
GORILLA
MIRROR
MONKEY
PARROT
POLO
SQUASH
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
EMULATEStraightforward
SPORTSModerate
MANIATricky
SINGLE ANIMAL IN A CREATIVELY SPELLED BAND NAMEDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
EMULATEStraightforward
WORDS MEANING TO IMITATE OR REPLICATE SOMEONE ELSE+ 3 more…
SPORTSModerate
THESE CAN ALL BE PLAYED ON A COURT OR COURSE — AND ALSO SQUASHED, SIPPED, OR SWATTED+ 3 more…
MANIATricky
INTENSE OBSESSIONS OR ENTHUSIASMS THAT SWEEP THROUGH A CROWD+ 3 more…
SINGLE ANIMAL IN A CREATIVELY SPELLED BAND NAMEDevious
EACH IS ONE ANIMAL HIDDEN INSIDE A BAND NAME WITH A CREATIVE SPELLING TWIST+ 3 more…
Full solution
EMULATEStraightforward
COPY,ECHO,MIRROR,PARROT
COPY, ECHO, MIRROR, and PARROT all mean to imitate or replicate someone else's actions or words.
SPORTSModerate
CRICKET,GOLF,POLO,SQUASH
CRICKET, GOLF, POLO, and SQUASH are all sports — but each word also has a non-sport meaning, which is the misdirection.
MANIATricky
BUG,CRAZE,FAD,FEVER
BUG, CRAZE, FAD, and FEVER all mean a sudden widespread obsession or mania.
SINGLE ANIMAL IN A CREATIVELY SPELLED BAND NAMEDevious
BEETLE,BIRD,GORILLA,MONKEY
BEETLE (The Beatles), BIRD (The Byrds), GORILLA (Gorillaz), and MONKEY (Arctic Monkeys) are each a single animal found in a band name with an unconventional spelling.