Work through the levels. Reveal the Spangram only when you’re truly ready.
Today’s clue: “Coming in hot”
A gentle direction — no specifics.
Closer — the category is coming into focus.
Near-direct — only read if you’re stuck.
Direction only.
Getting closer.
Near-direct.
6 theme words — lengths in random order
Spaces not counted in total
All theme words — shuffled
These words fit the theme on the surface, but aren’t part of today’s solution. Knowing them ahead of time can save you minutes of searching.
It’s a direct synonym for hot-tempered, but the puzzle uses less obvious alternatives.
Commonly used for intense heat, but it isn’t among the selected synonyms.
Ardent is very close in meaning, yet the puzzle opts for more specific adjectives like FERVENT and ZEALOUS.
a textbook decoy
With a clue like 'Coming in hot,' the theme of intense passion is almost instantly recognizable, so the overall puzzle rates a mild 4.5. HEATED and INTENSE were the immediate finds that confirmed the category, and then FERVENT, FIERCE, TORRID, and ZEALOUS came into focus as the remaining grid letters cleared up. The spangram FIREBRAND was a satisfying capstone because it connected the two columns of letters that had been left open after placing the other words. A subtle challenge was that some answers like FERVENT and ZEALOUS used less everyday letter patterns, causing a brief hesitation even after the theme was known.
The clue 'Coming in hot' is a clever double entendre: it suggests a person entering with forceful energy, and it literally references heat. That made it a perfect match for a set of adjectives that all describe a fiery, passionate nature. The spangram FIREBRAND drives the pun home—it’s both something that is literally coming in hot (a burning piece of wood) and a term for a person who ignites controversy. The puzzle plays on the everyday phrase to lead you straight to its word list.
Instead of reaching for the most obvious synonyms like 'passionate' or 'fiery,' the puzzle picks six nuanced adjectives that each shade the concept of intense feeling differently—from the zeal of ZEALOUS to the heat of TORRID. This choice raises the difficulty slightly and highlights the richness of English. The spangram FIREBRAND elegantly functions as the noun form of the theme, naming the person who embodies all these traits. The set feels cohesive because every word can modify the same subject, yet each carries a distinct connotation.
