rocky or steep crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're stuck on the clue "rocky or steep", you've come to the right place. Below you'll find all the possible solutions, categorized by their letter count, along with clear explanations to help you understand why each answer fits.
Solutions for "rocky or steep crossword clue" by Letter Count
5 Letters
SHEER: Describes something extremely steep or perpendicular, often referring to a cliff face or an immediate incline.
STONY: Characterized by an abundance of stones, directly fitting the 'rocky' aspect of the clue.
6 Letters
CRAGGY: Full of rugged rocks or crags, perfectly describing a 'rocky' landscape that often implies steepness.
RUGGED: Having a broken, uneven, or jagged surface, applicable to both a 'rocky' terrain and a 'steep', difficult-to-traverse area.
More About "rocky or steep crossword clue"
The clue "rocky or steep" is a classic example of how crosswords use synonyms and related concepts to challenge solvers. The key here is the disjunction "or", meaning the answer could relate to either 'rocky' terrain or a 'steep' incline. Often, the best answers will have connotations of both, such as 'rugged' or 'craggy', which evoke images of both rough, stony ground and challenging, upward slopes.
Understanding the nuances of these words is crucial. 'Sheer' specifically points to an extreme degree of steepness, while 'stony' is a direct descriptor of a ground type. Puzzles rely on your vocabulary depth to discern which word, among several possibilities, is the most precise fit for the intersecting letters you already have.
When encountering such clues, consider the context of the puzzle. Is it a geographical theme? Does it relate to natural features? This can often guide you towards the correct interpretation and, ultimately, the solution.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Look at Intersecting Letters: Always use the letters you've already filled in from other clues. These are your most powerful tools for narrowing down possibilities for ambiguous clues like "rocky or steep."
- Consider Word Length: The number of letters in the answer is a critical constraint. If you have "rocky or steep" and need a 5-letter word, you can immediately rule out 6-letter options like RUGGED or CRAGGY.
- Think of Synonyms and Related Concepts: If the direct synonyms don't fit, think about words that describe the characteristics or implications of the clue. For 'rocky', think about surfaces, materials. For 'steep', think about angles, difficulty of ascent.
- Check for Common Crossword Answers: Certain words appear frequently in crosswords. Over time, you'll develop an intuition for these common solutions. 'Sheer' and 'rugged' are good examples for this type of clue.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can 'rocky' and 'steep' both lead to the same crossword answer?
Crossword clues often use words with overlapping meanings or implications. For 'rocky or steep', words like 'rugged' can apply to both a rough, stony surface (rocky) and an uneven, difficult climb (steep). Similarly, 'craggy' implies both rocks and a challenging, often steep, terrain.
What other words might be related to 'rocky or steep' in crosswords?
Beyond the primary answers, you might find words like 'precipitous' (very steep), 'stony' (full of stones), 'crag' (a steep, rugged rock), 'bouldered' (covered with boulders), or 'uphill' (steep, arduous).
What's the best strategy for clues with multiple possible interpretations like this?
When a clue has 'or', consider both possibilities. Look at the letter count first. Then, use any letters you already have from intersecting words to narrow down the options. If multiple words fit the length, think about which one is most common in crosswords or best fits the overall puzzle's theme.