SevenLetters

Word Ladder Puzzle: Shrink a Word in Daily 7 to 3

7 to 3 is a word ladder that goes down. Start with a seven-letter word, then take away one letter at a time, rearranging the rest, until you reach a three-letter word.

How to play 7 to 3

1. Today’s seven-letter word sits at the top and the clock starts.
2. Drag six of its letters down, in any order, to make a six-letter word.
3. Repeat: five letters from those six, then four, then three. Each step must be a real word.
4. Each word must still leave a way down to three letters, and a chain may use only one plural.
5. Need help? Hint gives you the next word, but each hint adds 30 seconds to your time. Recall brings your letters back.

Tips

• Drop the awkward letter first. Getting rid of a J, V or K early leaves friendlier letters for the short words.
• Keep the vowels balanced: a four-letter word with no vowels left is a dead end.
• Save your one plural. Dropping an S late is easy, so don’t spend it on the first step.
• Think of the step as an anagram with a letter to spare: say the leftover letters aloud in different orders.
• Only use a hint if you’re truly stuck: 30 seconds is a lot on a fast leaderboard.

Questions