8 Down

NYT Daily • August 1, 2025

Bit of scattered Valentine's Day décor

Answer:

ROSEPETAL

Hint:

["**Hint:** \"A single part of a flower often found in romantic settings.\"\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward thinking of floral elements associated with romance (like Valentine's Day) without directly mentioning roses or petals. It’s easier than the original clue but still requires a small leap to arrive at the answer."]

Explanation:

Certainly! Here's a clear and concise explanation of the clue and answer: **Clue:** "Bit of scattered Valentine's Day décor" **Answer:** "ROSEPETAL" **Explanation:** The clue uses wordplay to lead to the answer. "Valentine's Day décor" hints at items commonly associated with the holiday, such as roses. "Bit of scattered" suggests that the word might be a fragment or part of something larger, and "scattered" implies that the letters could be rearranged or spread out. "ROSEPETAL" is a single petal from a rose, a classic Valentine's Day decoration. The word itself is a combination of "rose" and "petal," fitting the theme perfectly. Additionally, the answer plays on the idea of something delicate and romantic, reinforcing the Valentine's Day connection. The clue cleverly combines literal meaning ("décor") with a hint at the structure of the word ("scattered" implying a compound word). Thus, "ROSEPETAL" is the answer because it is a piece of Valentine's Day decoration (a rose petal) and fits the wordplay of the clue.

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