Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects TENDER to HEATER in 4 steps. This 6-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?
Play This PuzzleChange positions: pos 1: 2, pos 3: 1, pos 4: 1. Most-changed position: 1 (2).
Change sequence: 1, 3, 1, 4.
Letter mix: V→V 0, V→C 0, C→V 1, C→C 3.
Word stats: 5 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 3 positions.
Cover the steps and work from both TENDER and HEATER first. This ladder needs 4 moves, and the endpoints already share 3 letter positions—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.
The recorded route changes position 1 from T to L first, but saves position 4 (D to T) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.
At the midpoint, LEADER matches 4 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 TENDER to HEATER without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.