2026-08-18
Panda Daily Categories #45 answer
Full solution for today's word category puzzle. Try the puzzle first if you want to avoid spoilers, then use the explanations below to understand why each group fits.
Puzzle summary
This daily word category puzzle gives you 16 words and asks you to sort them into four hidden groups. The solution for 2026-08-18 has a medium difficulty rating.
Words in this puzzle
CARAMEL, TAFFY, LOLLIPOP, GUMDROP, TRIM, BANGS, HIGHLIGHTS, SHAMPOO, MILESTONE, SPRINT, BACKLOG, DEADLINE, MEND, PATCH, RESTORE, FIX
Category
Candy Types
CARAMEL, TAFFY, LOLLIPOP, GUMDROP
All four are types of candy.
Category
Hair Salon Words
TRIM, BANGS, HIGHLIGHTS, SHAMPOO
These words are used in hair salons.
Category
Project Management Terms
MILESTONE, SPRINT, BACKLOG, DEADLINE
These are project management terms.
Category
Words Meaning Repair
MEND, PATCH, RESTORE, FIX
These words can mean to repair something.
How to read this answer
A strong category usually has one clean idea connecting all four words. If a word seems to fit two places, look for the group where all four words share the same kind of relationship.
For future puzzles, start with the most obvious category, lock it in, then use the remaining words to find the trickier meanings, synonyms, or shared contexts.