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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.
BULGARI
CHAD
CHICKEN
CHIP
COOLIDGE
CYRUS
HIPPO
HUNGARY
HUNGRY
LAOS
MARK
NICK
PARAGUAY
SCRATCH
SMARTIES
SPAN
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
SURFACE IMPERFECTIONSStraightforward
LANDLOCKED COUNTRIESModerate
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTERTricky
STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH"Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
SURFACE IMPERFECTIONSStraightforward
MINOR DAMAGE YOU MIGHT FIND ON A CAR DOOR OR OLD MUG+ 3 more…
LANDLOCKED COUNTRIESModerate
COUNTRIES WITH NO COASTLINE TO CALL THEIR OWN+ 3 more…
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTERTricky
EUROPEAN COUNTRY NAMES WITH ONE LETTER REMOVED+ 3 more…
STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH"Devious
WORDS MEANING 'COOL' OR 'TRENDY' HIDDEN AT THE START OF EACH WORD+ 3 more…
Full solution
SURFACE IMPERFECTIONSStraightforward
CHIP,MARK,NICK,SCRATCH
CHIP, MARK, NICK, and SCRATCH are all words for minor surface damage or blemishes on objects
LANDLOCKED COUNTRIESModerate
CHAD,HUNGARY,LAOS,PARAGUAY
CHAD, HUNGARY, LAOS, and PARAGUAY are all landlocked countries with no access to an ocean or sea
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MINUS A LETTERTricky
BULGARI,CYRUS,HUNGRY,SPAN
BULGARI(A), CYRUS (CYPRUS minus P... wait — CY+RUS = CYPRUS minus P), HUNGRY (HUNGARY minus A), and SPAN (SPAIN minus I) are European countries with one letter dropped
STARTING WITH WORDS FOR "STYLISH"Devious
CHICKEN,COOLIDGE,HIPPO,SMARTIES
CHICKEN (CHIC), COOLIDGE (COOL), HIPPO (HIP), and SMARTIES (SMART) each begin with a word meaning stylish or fashionable