Slimeantics #18

RIVER

Close, for fewer points: ESTUARY, TRIBUTARY, RAPIDS

• STREAM: These usually describe smaller waterways; the clue specifies a large one.
• CREEK: These usually describe smaller waterways; the clue specifies a large one.
• BROOK: These usually describe smaller waterways; the clue specifies a large one.

In a sentence:

• The little boat floated down the river toward the distant sea.
• We skipped stones across the river, and the current carried the ripples away.

GIGGLE

Also accepted: TITTER, SNICKER, TEE, TWITTER

Close, for fewer points: SNIGGER, CACKLE, SNORT, CHORTLE

• LAUGH: Laugh is broader and need not be light or silly.
• CHUCKLE: A chuckle is usually a low, restrained laugh rather than the light, silly sound in the clue.

In a sentence:

• The tickle made the baby giggle again and again.
• Try not to giggle during the quiet part of the movie.

CLUTTER

Also accepted: MESS, DISORDER, LITTER, MUDDLE

Close, for fewer points: CHAOS, DEBRIS, RUBBLE, RUBBISH

• JUNK: Junk means unwanted things, which need not form an untidy pile.
• JUMBLE: A jumble is any confused mixture, not necessarily things left lying about.

In a sentence:

• There was so much clutter on my desk that I could not find my pencil.
• Let's clear the clutter of toys, papers, and socks off the floor.

SERENDIPITY

Also accepted: HAPPENSTANCE, COINCIDENCE, PROVIDENCE

Close, for fewer points: FATE, DESTINY, KARMA, WINDFALL, GODSEND

• LUCK: These do not require an unexpectedly beneficial discovery.
• CHANCE: These do not require an unexpectedly beneficial discovery.
• FLUKE: These do not require an unexpectedly beneficial discovery.
• FORTUNE: These do not require an unexpectedly beneficial discovery.

In a sentence:

• Finding a ten-dollar bill in an old coat was pure serendipity, a happy accident.
• By serendipity, we met an old friend at the train station.

OBFUSCATE

Also accepted: CONFUSE, OBSCURE, MUDDLE, BLUR, FOG, COMPLICATE, GARBLE, MYSTIFY

Close, for fewer points: HIDE, CONCEAL, MASK, VEIL, DISGUISE, PERPLEX, SCRAMBLE, CLOUD, MUDDY

In a sentence:

• The politician tried to obfuscate the facts with confusing words so no one could follow them.
• Do not obfuscate your directions with fancy language, or we will never find the house.

DESULTORY

Also accepted: HALFHEARTED, AIMLESS, RANDOM, CASUAL, HAPHAZARD, ERRATIC, PERFUNCTORY, CURSORY, LISTLESS, LACKADAISICAL, FITFUL, UNSYSTEMATIC

Close, for fewer points: IDLE, CARELESS, IRREGULAR, LOOSE, VAGUE

• SPORADIC: Sporadic means intermittent rather than lacking a plan or purpose.

In a sentence:

• He made a desultory effort to clean his room, wandering about with no plan or energy.
• The desultory conversation drifted from topic to topic, as no one cared much.

COLLYWOBBLES

Also accepted: BUTTERFLIES

Close, for fewer points: FEAR, DREAD, CRAMPS, SHAKES, NERVOUSNESS, ANXIETY

• JITTERS: These do not necessarily specify a fluttering stomach sensation from worry.
• NERVES: These do not necessarily specify a fluttering stomach sensation from worry.
• BELLYACHE: These do not necessarily specify a fluttering stomach sensation from worry.
• NAUSEA: These can arise from illness rather than the worry described in the clue.
• QUEASINESS: These can arise from illness rather than the worry described in the clue.

In a sentence:

• I got the collywobbles before my speech, a fluttery, uneasy feeling in my stomach.
• A case of the collywobbles made her tummy flip before the big test.