STUMPERS CCLXXV

Think of a common seven-letter word such that if you drop one letter you'll get a common six-letter word, and if you drop one letter from that word, you'll get a common five-letter word - all without any re-arrangement of letters. That word, in turn, can be anagrammed into a fourth word. Dropping one letter from that word, and re-arranging the letters, will give a fifth word. There are two solutions.

Answer:

1. THROUGH            THROUGH
2. TROUGH      or      THOUGH
3. TOUGH                   TOUGH 
4. OUGHT                   OUGHT
5. GOUT                      GOUT

Credit:
James Matthews
Presented by Will Shortz 
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
December 9, 2018