Decrypto · Board game rules
Can a hint use the relative meaning between words?
Quick answer
Yes, if the relative meaning is publicly known and refers to the keyword's meaning, not its position or spelling.
Details
Clues must relate to the meaning of the keywords and be based on publicly available information [p.5 — 2.1.3]. For example, if a keyword is "big," a clue like "opposite of small" is allowed if "small" is a publicly known concept and the clue directly describes the keyword’s meaning. However, clues cannot reference a keyword’s position on the screen, spelling, or pronunciation [p.5 — 2.1.3].
The rulebook does not explicitly prohibit using relationships between words (e.g., synonyms, antonyms) as long as the clue focuses on the keyword’s meaning. For instance, if "dragonfly" and "insect" are both keywords, a clue like "type of insect" for "dragonfly" would be valid, as it ties to the keyword’s meaning [p.2 — Example].
Watch out: Avoid clues that implicitly reference another keyword’s position or identity (e.g., "the third keyword" or "the one we used last round"). Such references are prohibited, as they rely on game-specific context rather than public meaning [p.5 — 2.1.3].