Word Lanes Level 174 Answers

EXCESS 6 letters - the plural form is the giveaway here - "Antonym of moderation" asks for more than one, and EXCESS fits. The doubled S is a giveaway once one crossing lands on it.

MELANIN 7 letters - the clue "Brown skin pigment" describes MELANIN directly. It begins with M and ends with N; use any crossing letters you already have to confirm it.

DRAGRACER 9 letters - "Car competing over a set straight-line distance" leads to DRAGRACER by definition. BIOHAZARD in this level is the same length, so check the crossing letters before you commit.

BIZET 5 letters - reading "Composer of Carmen" literally points to BIZET. It begins with B and ends with T; use any crossing letters you already have to confirm it.

SAMSPADE 8 letters - "Detective protagonist of The Maltese Falcon" is a straight definition, and SAMSPADE is the word that matches. It begins with S and ends with E; use any crossing letters you already have to confirm it.

HARMONIZING 11 letters - the present participle ending narrows the options - "Singing notes that sound good together" leads to HARMONIZING. It is the longest answer in Level 174, so solving it first exposes the most crossing letters.

BIOHAZARD 9 letters - "Substance, life-threatening to humans" leads to BIOHAZARD by definition. It begins with B and ends with D; use any crossing letters you already have to confirm it.

FLIES 5 letters - the plural form is the giveaway here - "The adult form of maggots" asks for more than one, and FLIES fits. The trailing S is often the first letter a crossing clue hands you.

LOOM 4 letters - "Weaving frame" is a straight definition, and LOOM is the word that matches. It is the shortest lane here; leave it until the crossings make it obvious.