Less merry

GRAVER

"Here’s a helpful hint for the clue "Less merry": "Think of a word meaning more serious, derived from a synonym of 'cheerful' with a comparative ending." This hint guides the solver toward the idea of opposites and comparative forms without directly giving away the answer."

The clue "Less merry" is a cryptic hint that relies on wordplay. The word "merry" can be associated with "gay," an older term meaning cheerful or lighthearted. "Less merry" suggests the opposite of "gay," which is "grave" (meaning serious or somber).