Archive
Date: 2026-07-11
TENDER → HEATER
Difficulty: Easy Goal Steps: 4 6 Letters

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?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 TENDER → LENDER
Change the 1st letter T to L, turning TENDER into LENDER.
Step 2 LENDER → LEADER
Change the 3rd letter N to A, turning LENDER into LEADER.
Step 3 LEADER → HEADER
Change the 1st letter L to H, turning LEADER into HEADER.
Step 4 HEADER → HEATER
Change the 4th letter D to T, turning HEADER into HEATER.

Puzzle Insights

Change 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.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

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.

FAQ

Q: What is the shortest path from TENDER to HEATER?
A: The optimal solution for the Word Ladder from TENDER to HEATER takes exactly 4 steps.
Q: Any tips for today's puzzle?
A: This puzzle involves 6-letter words. A good strategy is to look for common intermediate words or focus on changing vowels first.
Q: Where can I play past Word Ladder puzzles?
A: You can access our complete archive by clicking the "Puzzle Archive" link at the bottom of the page.

Word Definitions