Work through the levels. Reveal the Spangram only when you’re truly ready.
Today’s clue: “"What is ..."”
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.
Solvers naturally connect “what is” with a clue, but CLUE itself isn’t a named theme element here.
A clear reference to Double Jeopardy, a famous round, yet it falls outside the chosen word set.
The person presenting the answers is central to every episode, but the puzzle sticks to game mechanics.
a textbook decoy
The difficulty is low because the clue instantly evokes Jeopardy! and the word set is iconic, though the spangram’s compressed spelling adds a small hurdle. Once ANSWER and QUESTION are placed, the remaining answers—BOARD, BUZZER, CATEGORY, and WAGER—fall into predictable spots, converging quickly around the show’s core vocabulary. The spangram INJEOPARDY is easy to overlook at first because it’s a fused phrase rather than the standalone show title, but its ten-letter span forces a satisfying lock into the grid. WAGER is the sly outlier; it’s a very specific Final Jeopardy term that feels slightly less immediate than the other components, making it the stickiest word to recall.
The clue “What is ...” is the signature phrase contestants use to phrase every response, flipping the standard Q&A on its head. In Jeopardy!, you’re given the answer and must produce the question, so this opening instantly signals the game’s unique verbal gimmick. It’s a brilliant wink to anyone who’s ever shouted the show’s catchphrase at a TV screen.
The editor chose the exact instrumental pieces of Jeopardy! rather than loose trivia show vocabulary. ANSWER and QUESTION represent the format’s core inversion, BOARD refers to the game board, BUZZER the signaling device, CATEGORY the topic labels, and WAGER the Final Jeopardy risk. This tight selection avoids general words like CLUE, DOUBLE, or HOST, emphasizing the show’s specific machinery and making the set feel complete and methodical.
