Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-09-04: CORE → DOOR

Date: 2026-09-04

CORE → DOOR

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 6 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects CORE to DOOR in 6 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 CORE → COLE

Change the 3rd letter R to L, turning CORE into COLE.

Step 2 COLE → POLE

Change the 1st letter C to P, turning COLE into POLE.

Step 3 POLE → POLL

Change the 4th letter E to L, turning POLE into POLL.

Step 4 POLL → POOL

Change the 3rd letter L to O, turning POLL into POOL.

Step 5 POOL → POOR

Change the 4th letter L to R, turning POOL into POOR.

Step 6 POOR → DOOR

Change the 1st letter P to D, turning POOR into DOOR.

Puzzle Insights

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

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

Letter mix: V→V 0, V→C 1, C→V 1, C→C 4.

Word stats: 7 words, 7 unique letters. Start/target share 1 position.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both CORE and DOOR first. This ladder needs 6 moves, and the endpoints already share 1 letter position—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 3 from R to L first, but saves position 1 (P to D) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, POLL matches 1 target position. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 1 and 3 and 4 most often.

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