May 25, 2024

Occasional Puzzles - 🕶️ Shaded Squares

Today's puzzle was sent in by reader Justin in Richmond, VA. He also happens to be the founder of Buttondown, the newsletter service through which you're receiving this email! Should you find yourself in need of a user-friendly, non-fussy newsletter platform with great customer service, we recommend giving Buttondown a try. (A genuine recommendation, not an ad!)

Today's Puzzle - 🕶️ Shaded Squares

The square below is made up of four smaller squares. Using no measuring tools, shade exactly half of the larger square such that the unshaded portion is also a square.

Source: X

Source: Giphy

Previous Puzzle - ❌ Xs Mark the Spot

Puzzle

Find words to fit the clues below. In all four answers, the "X X X" must be filled in with the same three letter word.

• _ _ _ _ _ X X X (Spice used in Indian and Scandinavian cuisine, 8 letters)
• _ _ _ X X X _ _ _ (Relaxing herb, 9 letters)
• X X X _ _ _ _ _ _ (Fleeting, 9 letters)
• _ _ _ _ X X X _ _ _ _ (Doctor's intake tool, 11 letters)

Solution [SPOILER]

• CARDAMOM (Spice used in Indian and Scandinavian cuisine)
• CHAMOMILE (Relaxing herb)
• MOMENTARY (Fleeting)
• THERMOMETER (Doctor's intake tool)