LESS IS MORE XVI 

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

December, 2025

 

In his puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add at least one letter to each side of the letter groups to form the shortest possible common words. It can be done by adding 26 letters.

 

1. _____ NSW _____

2. _____ LUD _____

3. ______ DD _____

4. _____ GWI_____

5. ______ GL _____

6. _____ SCI   _____

7. _____ BMI _____

8. _____ LBU _____

9. ______ YB _____

10. _____ IFL _____ 

 

(Possible) Answers: 

 

1. ANSWER

2. ELUDE

3. EDDY

4. BIGWIG

5. OGLE

6. RESCIND

7. SUBMIT

8. ALBUM

9. MAYBE

10. RIFLE 

LESS IS MORE XV

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

March, 2025

 

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add at least one letter to each side of the letter groups below to form the shortest possible common words. It can be done by adding 26 letters. 

 

1. _____ BUR _____

 

2. _____ RBI _____

 

3. _____ RFE _____

 

4. _____ ADA _____

 

5. _____ GEB _____

 

6. _____ ACA _____

 

7. _____ BON _____

 

8. _____ MUD _____

 

9. _____ GEO _____

 

10. _____ KIR _____  

 

(Possible) Solution: 

 

1. SUBURB

2. ORBIT

3. CURFEW

4. RADAR (MADAM)

5. ALGEBRA

6. MACAW

7. EBONY

8. SMUDGE

9. PIGEON

10. SKIRT  

LESS IS MORE XIV

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

Volume 72

 

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add at least one letter to each side of the letter groups to form the shortest possible common words. It can be done by adding 33 letters, but there may be shorter solutions. 

 

1.  _____ GA _____

 

2. _____ LS _____

 

3. _____ BT _____

 

4. _____ NV _____

 

5. _____ BS _____

 

6. _____ PK _____

 

7. _____ CH _____

 

8. _____ FS _____

 

9. _____ CY _____

 

10. _____ ZU _____  

 

(Possible) Solution: 

 

1. AGAR or EGAD

2. ALSO or  ELSE

3. OBTAIN or  DEBTOR

4. ENVY

5. ABSENT

6. UPKEEP

7. ORCHID

8. OFFSET

9. SCYTHE

10. AZURE  

LESS IS MORE XIII

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add at least one letter to each side of the letter groups below to form the shortest possible common words. It can be done by adding 28 letters.

1. _____ EFT _____

2. _____ AUC _____

3. _____ FF _____

4. _____JOL _____

5. _____ DT _____

6. _____ KR _____

7. _____ UDI _____

8. _____ ZZ _____

9. _____ AGU _____

10. _____ AUN _____

11. _____ NLO _____

12. _____ XCE _____

(Possible) Answers:

1. HEFTY

2. SAUCE

3. IFFY

4. CAJOLE

5. WIDTH

6. OKRA

7. AUDIO

8. PIZZA

9. VAGUE

10. HAUNT or TAUNT

11. UNLOCK

12. EXCEL  

 

 

LESS IS MORE XII

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add at least one letter to both sides of the letter groups below to form the shortest possible common words. Plurals ending in S and proper names are not allowed. It can be done by adding 22 letters. 

1. _____ DM _____

2. _____ BU _____

3. _____YMB _____

4. _____ URF _____

5. _____ THO _____

6. _____ BRI _____

7. _____ TL _____

8. _____ NCI _____  

(Possible) Answers: 

1. ADMIT

2. ABUT

3. SYMBOL

4. CURFEW

5. ETHOS

6. DEBRIS

7. ATLAS

8. RANCID  

LESS IS MORE XI

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add at least one letter to both sides of the letter groups below to form the shortest possible common words. Plurals ending in S and proper names are not allowed. It can be done by adding 28 letters.

1. _____ EFT _____

2. _____ AUC _____

3. _____ FF _____

4. _____ JOL _____

5. _____ DT _____

6. _____ KR _____

7. _____ UDI _____

8. _____ ZZ _____

9. _____ AGU _____

10. _____ AUN _____

11. _____ NLO _____

12. _____ XCE _____ 

Answers:

1. HEFTY

2. SAUCE

3. IFFY

4. CAJOLE

5. WIDTH

6. OKRA

7. STUDIO

8. PIZZA/FIZZY/DIZZY

9. VAGUE

10. HAUNT/FAUNA

11. UNLOCK

12. EXCEL  

LESS IS MORE X

In this puzzle, the low score wins. Add at least one letter to each side of the letter groups below to  form the shortest possible common words. Plurals ending in S and proper names are not allowed. It can be done by adding 28 letters.

1. _____ DHE _____

2. _____ BID _____

3. _____ EAG _____

4. _____ CES _____

5. _____ BBI _____

6. _____ SCE _____

7. _____ YMN _____ 

8. _____ ULD _____

9. _____ AVI _____

10. _____UGA _____ 

(Possible) Answers:

 

1. ADHERE

2. ABIDE

3. LEAGUE or  BEAGLE

4. ACCESS

5. RABBIT or BOBBIN

6. ASCEND

7. HYMNAL

8. BOULDER

9. CAVIL

10. SUGAR 

LESS IS MORE IX

In this puzzle, the low score wins. Add at least one letter to each side of the letter groups below to form the shortest possible common words. Plurals ending in S and proper names are not allowed. It can be done by adding 25 letters.

1. _____ OIS _____

2. _____ RCA _____

3. _____ BAL _____

4. _____ XU _____

5. _____ DR _____

6. _____ RB _____

7 _____ OCO _____

8. _____ UDI _____

9. _____ UXU _____

10. _____ HYM _____

(Possible) Answers:

1. HOIST or MOIST

2. ARCANE

3. RIBALD or  COBALT

4. EXULT or EXUDE

5. CADRE

6. DERBY

7. COCOA

8. AUDIT

9. LUXURY

10. RHYME or THYME

 

LESS IS MORE

The three letters in the word AID can be arranged in six different ways. Can you think of six valid words - one in each of the possible arrangements AND by adding the fewest letters possible to make the words. It can be done by adding eight letters. That is, only two of the arrangements required adding more that one letter. 

(Possible) Answer:

PAID

ADIT

TRIAD

IDAHO

DAIS

DIAL

 

Credit:

Joseph Appel

INTERNAL BODY PARTS

What is the shortest familiar word that contains the names of each of the following body parts? Each answer must have at least one letter before and after the body part's name. No capitalized words, past tenses, plurals, or verbs formed by adding "-s"  are allowed. Some names may have more than one answer. HINT: It can be done by adding 28 letters.

1. _____ EAR _____

2. _____ LEG _____

3. _____ CHIN _____

4. _____ RIB _____

5. _____ ARM _____

6. _____ LIPS _____

7. _____ GUM _____

8. _____ CHEST _____

9. _____ ANKLE _____

10. _____ HAIR ______ 

Answers:

 

1. HearT, BearD

2. ElegY

3. AchinG

4. BribE, TribE

5. KarmA

6. EClipsE, ELlipsE

7. LEgumE

8. ORchestRA

9. THankleSS

10. ChairMAN

 

LESS IS MORE VIII

 

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

December, 2020

 

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add as few letters as possible to the two or three letters in each clue -  but at least one on each side - to make a common word. It can be done by adding 19 letters. That is, only three words need two letters added on one side or the other. 

 

1. _____ LUD _____

2. _____ DD _____

3. _____ GL _____

4. _____ LBU _____

5. _____ MNA _____

6. _____ IFL _____

7. _____ BMI _____

8. _____ YB _____

 

(Possible) Answers:

 

1. ELUDE

2. EDDY

3. OGLE

4. ALBUM

5. HYMNAL

6. RIFLE

7. SUBMIT

8. MAYBE 

LESS IS MORE VII

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

Summer, 2022

In this puzzle, the lowest score wins. Add as few letters as possible to the two letters listed in each clue - but at least one on each side - to make a common word. It can be done by adding 40 letters.

1. _____ LK _____

2. _____ RD _____

3. _____ HT _____

4. _____ IW _____

5. _____ EQ _____

6. _____ YR _____

7. _____ XH _____

8. _____ YI _____

9. _____ DH _____

10. _____ SU _____

11. _____ FS _____

12. _____ PK _____

 

(Possible) Answers:

 

1. BULKY/MILKY/SILKY

2. ARDOR/ORDER

3. EIGHTY/MIGHTY

4. KIWI

5. SEQUIN

6. LYRE/TYRO

7. EXHALE/EXHUME

8. LYING

9. ADHERE

10. USUAL

11. OFFSET

12. NAPKIN  

LESS IS MORE VI

 

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

August, 2021

 

Add as few letters as possible, but at least one on each side of the given letters, to form ten common words.

1. _____ IEV ____

2. _____ ALI _____

3. _____ RRO _____

4. _____ HOI _____

5. _____ AUZ _____

6. _____ SPE _____

7. _____ AJO _____

8. _____ TAF _____

9. _____ IFL _____

10. _____ AGU _____ 

HINT: It can be done by adding only 20 letters - that is, every word can be changed to a new one by adding a single letter to each side of the given letters.

Answers:

1. SIEVE

2. VALID

3. ARROW

4. CHOIR

5. GAUZE

6. ASPEN

7. MAJOR

8. STAFF

9. RIFLE

10. VAGUE

 

LESS IS MORE V

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

February, 2019 (#1-8)

 

Add the fewest letters possible, but at least one on each side of the given letters, to form ten common words. As a hint, the minimum number of letters to be added to each word is shown below.

 

1. _____ SCO _____

2. _____ BNO _____

3. _____ RDO _____

4. _____ KMA _____

5. _____ AFE _____

6. _____ EAL _____

7. _____ HOT _____

8. _____ RTN _____

9. _____ OSU _____

10. _____ RDE _____

 

HINT:

1. _____ SCO _____ (2)

2. _____ BNO _____ (3)

3. _____ RDO _____ (2)

4. _____ KMA _____ (4) 

5. _____ AFE _____ (2)

6. _____ EAL _____ (2)

7. _____ HOT _____ (2)

8. _____ RTN _____ (4)

9. _____ OSU _____ (4)

10. _____ RDE _____ (3)

11. _____ CID _____ (3)

12. _____ SIG _____ (3)

(Possible) Answers:

 

1. ASCOT

2. HOBNOB

3. ARDOR

4. MILKMAN

5. WAFER

6. REALM (or MEALY)

7. PHOTO

8. PARTNER

9. CLOSURE

10. ARDENT

11. DECIDE

12. DESIGN

 

 

LESS IS MORE IV

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

Volume 45

 

Add the fewest letters possible, but at least one on each side of the given letters, to form nine common words and one uncommon one (#6). More than one answer is possible for some words. It can be done by adding 28 letters. As a hint, the minimum number of letters to be added to each word is shown below.

 

1. _____ DAI _____

2. _____ NTR _____

3. _____ RCA _____

4. _____ LCO _____

5. _____ TUR _____

6. _____ AIG _____

7. _____ CYT _____

8. _____ FBE _____

9. _____ LBU _____

10 _____ PIF _____ 

 

HINT:

1. DAI + 3

2. NTR + 2

3. RCA + 3

4. LCO + 3

5. TUR + 3

6.  AIG + 2

7. CYT + 3

8. FBE + 4

9. LBU + 2

10. PIF + 3

(Possible) Answers:

 

1. ORDAIN

2. ENTRY

3. ARCADE (ARCANE)

4. ALCOVE (FALCON)

5. STURDY (NATURE)

6. TAIGA

7. SCYTHE

8. OFFBEAT

9. ALBUM

10 TYPIFY 

 

#6: The taiga is a region of coniferous forests in the far northern latitudes, but below the Arctic tundra.

LESS IS MORE III

Add the fewest letters possible, but at least one on each side of the given letters, to form nine common words and one uncommon one (#10). There may be more than one answer to some clues.

1. ___VIN ___
2. ___FWA___
3. ___ADI ___
4. ___ULG ___
5. ___ TG ___
6. ___ FGH ___
7. ___HNI ___
8. ___BLO ___
9. ___REN___
10. ___DHP ___

(Possible) Answers:

1. OVINE
2. HALFWAY
3. NADIR/RADIO
4. BULGE
5. OUTGO
6. AFGHAN
7. ETHNIC
8. OBLONG
9. ARENA
10. JODHPURS (horseback riding pants)
 

LESS IS MORE II

Change each letter group into a common word by adding a single letter to each side. Some letter groups can be changed into two different words.

1. ___ YN__
2. ___ NY __
3. ___ EPI __
4. ___ URI __
5. ___ RIS __
6. ___ IGI ___
7. ___ UMI __
8. ___ RYS __

Answers:

1. LYNX
2. ONYX
3. TEPID 
4. CURIO or LURID
5. PRISM
6. RIGID or  DIGIT
7. HUMID
8. TRYST

LESS IS MORE I

Change each letter group below into a common word by adding at least one letter to each side. The object is to add as few letters as possible. It can be done by adding 28 letters. That is, in four of the words, three letters have to be added. Those four words are given below as a hint. For the others, it's possible to make a word by adding only one letter on each side. S may not be used as the final letter.

1. _____HOV_____
2. _____NV_____
3. _____AIT_____
4. _____IFL_____
5. _____EHI_____
6. _____DEA_____
7. _____NS_____
8. _____LLE_____
9. _____HRU_____
10. _____ONO_____
11. _____TIO_____
12. _____LC_____

HINT:
#5, 7, 11, and 12 add three letters each.

Answers:

1. SHOVE
2. ENVY
3. FAITH
4. RIFLE
5. BEHIND
6. IDEAL
7. SENSE*
8. ALLEY
9. SHRUG
10. HONOR*
11. ACTION
12. MULCH 

*7. DENSE or MANSE 
*10. DONOR