Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-01-03: FILE → KENT

Date: 2026-01-03

FILE → KENT

Difficulty: Easy Goal Steps: 5 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects FILE to KENT in 5 steps. This 4-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 FILE → MILE

Change the 1st letter F to M, turning FILE into MILE.

Step 2 MILE → MINE

Change the 3rd letter L to N, turning MILE into MINE.

Step 3 MINE → MINT

Change the 4th letter E to T, turning MINE into MINT.

Step 4 MINT → MENT

Change the 2nd letter I to E, turning MINT into MENT.

Step 5 MENT → KENT

Change the 1st letter M to K, turning MENT into KENT.

Puzzle Insights

Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 2: 1, pos 3: 1, pos 4: 1. Most-changed position: 1 (2).

Change sequence: 1, 3, 4, 2, 1.

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 1, C→V 0, C→C 3.

Word stats: 6 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both FILE and KENT first. This ladder needs 5 moves, and the endpoints already share 0 letter positions—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 1 from F to M first, but saves position 1 (M to K) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, MINT matches 2 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 1 most often.

Practice prompt: choose two unfamiliar bridge words, check their definitions, and write a short sentence for each. Then replay FILE to KENT without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.