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Difficulty

Difficulty here is an editorial rating for this site, not an official game score. Easy rounds link from the first clue, medium needs a second look before the answer locks in, and hard puzzles hide behind abstract or niche senses of familiar words. Use the levels for study, not for ranking yourself against other people.

Easy Clues link quickly with common associations. Most solvers name the answer within the first two or three reveals. 223 Medium Clues need a second look or a shift in angle. The link is fair, but the first reading of one or two clues usually misleads. 271 Hard Clues are abstract, niche, or written to mislead early guesses. Expect rare senses, specialized vocab, or loose-seeming links that tighten once the answer appears. 2

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Archive by year See how difficulty tags spread across the calendar. Answer patterns The relationship shape is usually what makes a round hard. Tips and strategies Habits that keep hard rounds from burning all five clues. Search the database Jump straight to a puzzle number or a clue word.