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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.
BOOM
CLAP
HAND
JOKE
LEVEL
ORDERS
OVATION
PHASE
ROLL
ROOM
ROUND
RUMBLE
SHADOW
SOCK
STAGE
STRING
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
STEP IN A PROCESSStraightforward
SOUND LIKE THUNDERModerate
KINDS OF PUPPETSTricky
STANDING ___Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
STEP IN A PROCESSStraightforward
EACH WORD MARKS A POINT ALONG THE WAY IN A SEQUENCE OR PROCEDURE+ 3 more…
SOUND LIKE THUNDERModerate
THESE WORDS ALL EVOKE THE LOUD, ROLLING NOISE OF A STORM OVERHEAD+ 3 more…
KINDS OF PUPPETSTricky
EACH WORD NAMES A TYPE OF PUPPET BASED ON HOW IT'S MADE OR CONTROLLED+ 3 more…
STANDING ___Devious
ADD 'STANDING' BEFORE EACH WORD TO MAKE A FAMILIAR PHRASE+ 3 more…
Full solution
STEP IN A PROCESSStraightforward
LEVEL,PHASE,ROUND,STAGE
LEVEL, PHASE, ROUND, and STAGE all describe a distinct step or progression point within a larger process or sequence.
SOUND LIKE THUNDERModerate
BOOM,CLAP,ROLL,RUMBLE
BOOM, CLAP, ROLL, and RUMBLE are all sounds associated with thunder during a storm.
KINDS OF PUPPETSTricky
HAND,SHADOW,SOCK,STRING
HAND, SHADOW, SOCK, and STRING are all varieties of puppets, named for the technique or material used to animate them.
STANDING ___Devious
JOKE,ORDERS,OVATION,ROOM
JOKE, ORDERS, OVATION, and ROOM all follow 'STANDING' to form common compound phrases: standing joke, standing orders, standing ovation, and standing room.