Sounded like a contented cat (6) - Crossword Clue
Answer: PURRED
The answer to "Sounded like a contented cat (6)" is PURRED. This classic crossword clue plays on the distinctive vocalization that cats make when they're happy, comfortable, or seeking attention—a soft, rhythmic rumbling sound that brings immediate comfort to pet owners worldwide.
Understanding the Clue: Sounded Like a Contented Cat
- When tackling this crossword puzzle clue, solvers need to think about the characteristic noises cats make when they're feeling satisfied.
- The six-letter answer PURRED perfectly captures this gentle, vibrating sound that's universally associated with feline contentment.
- Crossword constructors frequently use animal sounds as clue subjects because they offer clear, unambiguous answers that test vocabulary knowledge while remaining accessible to solvers of varying skill levels.
- The phrase "sounded like" is a common crossword indicator that you're looking for an onomatopoeia or a word describing a sound.
- Combined with "contented cat," this clue provides two strong contextual hints that guide experienced solvers directly to the solution.
Why PURRED Is the Perfect Answer
- PURRED fits the clue requirements precisely: it contains exactly six letters, describes a sound, and specifically relates to cats expressing contentment.
- The word derives from the imitative sound itself, making it a textbook example of onomatopoeia in the English language.
- Cats purr at frequencies between 25 and 150 Hertz, a range that scientists believe may have therapeutic effects on both the cats themselves and their human companions.
- This biological fact makes the word even more fitting, as purring is genuinely associated with contentment, healing, and relaxation in feline behavior.
Sounded like a contented cat (6) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q:How do I know if the answer is PURRED or MEOWED?
The clue's emphasis on "contented" is your key indicator. While cats MEOWED for various reasons (hunger, attention, communication), they specifically PURRED when feeling content, relaxed, or affectionate. The emotional descriptor in the clue points definitively toward PURRED.
Q:Are there other six-letter words for cat sounds?
MEWLED and YOWLED are alternatives, but neither captures contentment as PURRED does. MEWLED suggests a weaker, softer sound often associated with kittens, while YOWLED indicates distress or mating calls—the opposite of contentment.
Q:What if my crossing letters don't match PURRED?
Double-check your crossing answers first. If you're confident those are correct, reconsider whether the clue might have an unexpected interpretation. However, for this specific clue wording, PURRED is almost certainly correct, suggesting an error elsewhere in your puzzle.
Q:How common is this clue in crosswords?
Extremely common. Cat-related clues appear regularly in puzzles because they're accessible to solvers of all levels and universally understood. PURRED specifically appears in major publications like the New York Times, LA Times, and USA Today crosswords multiple times yearly.
