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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.
FEATHERS
FILTER
FIX
GUZZLE
JAM
LIGHTER
MESS
MOTHBALL
PEA
PEARL
PICKLE
PIPE CLEANER
POM-POM
SAD
TAMPER
WILLING
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
PREDICAMENTStraightforward
SMALL SPHERICAL THINGSModerate
PIPE-SMOKING ACCESSORIESTricky
WHAT "DOWN" MIGHT MEANDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
PREDICAMENTStraightforward
ALL MEAN YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT+ 3 more…
SMALL SPHERICAL THINGSModerate
TINY ROUND OBJECTS YOU MIGHT FIND IN DIFFERENT PLACES+ 3 more…
PIPE-SMOKING ACCESSORIESTricky
THINGS YOU'D FIND ON A PIPE SMOKER'S SHELF+ 3 more…
WHAT "DOWN" MIGHT MEANDevious
WORDS THAT 'DOWN' CAN SECRETLY MEAN+ 3 more…
Full solution
PREDICAMENTStraightforward
FIX,JAM,MESS,PICKLE
FIX, JAM, MESS, and PICKLE are all informal words meaning a difficult or awkward predicament.
SMALL SPHERICAL THINGSModerate
MOTHBALL,PEA,PEARL,POM-POM
MOTHBALL, PEA, PEARL, and POM-POM are all small, roughly spherical things found in everyday life.
PIPE-SMOKING ACCESSORIESTricky
FILTER,LIGHTER,PIPE CLEANER,TAMPER
FILTER, LIGHTER, PIPE CLEANER, and TAMPER are all accessories used when smoking a pipe.
WHAT "DOWN" MIGHT MEANDevious
FEATHERS,GUZZLE,SAD,WILLING
DOWN can mean FEATHERS (as in down feathers), GUZZLE (to down a drink), SAD (feeling down), or WILLING (to be down for something).