LETTER SWAPPING XVI
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

Each word in the left-hand column can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, the title words LETTER and SWAPPING could exchange the L in LETTER and the W in SWAPPING to form WETTER and SLAPPING. In the words LIVELY and DECODE, the I in LIVELY and the O in DECODE could be swapped to form LOVELY and DECIDE.

1. FERVENT                HIDEOUT
2. RUSTING                 FIREARMS
3. CLOTTED                PROWESS
4. PARSLEY                WHISPER
5. CARFARE                POISONS
6. MINUSES                CONCEIT
7. MOLDIER                REACHED
8. YEARLONG            PRIMATE

HINTS:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1. V
2. R
3. T
4. R
5. C
6. S
7. M
8. O

Answers:

1. FERMENT...............PRIVATE
2. OUSTING................PRISONS
3. CLOTHED...............REACTED
4. PAISLEY..................CONCERT
5. WARFARE...............PROCESS
6. MINUTES................HIDEOUS
7. SOLDIER.................WHIMPER
8. YEARLING.............FOREARMS

LETTER SWAPPING XV
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

Each word in the left-hand column can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, the title words LETTER and SWAPPING could exchange the L in LETTER and the W in SWAPPING to form WETTER and SLAPPING. In the words ANNUAL and CHORES, the U in ANNUAL and the E in CHORES could be swapped to form ANNEAL and CHORUS.

1. HOARSE          CORD
2. EARNING        AWAY
3. YOUR               GAUCHE
4. LESSEE            DECODE
5. PARIAH            MINE
6. RUNT                SCARF
7. LIVELY             FIST
8. INNATE             KNEW

HINTS:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1. O
2. E
3. Y
4. R
5. S
6. R
7. I
8. N

Answers:

1. HEARSE................GAUCHO
2. WARNING.............KNEE
3. FOUR.....................SCARY
4. LESSER.................COED
5. PARISH.................FIAT
6. AUNT.....................AWRY
7. LOVELY.................DECIDE
8. INMATE.................NINE  

LETTER SWAPPING XIV
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

Each word in the left-hand column can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, the title words LETTER and SWAPPING could exchange the L in LETTER and the W in SWAPPING to from WETTER and SLAPPING. In the words SNIT and PAUSED, the S in SNIT and the U in PAUSED could be swapped to form UNIT and PASSED.

1. TRAIN                  INSOLENT     
2. CONIC                  APPLE
3. ANNUAL             ATTIC
4. WILINESS           THE
5. STIMULATE        DRONING
6. PALLOR               IRONY
7. SIRED                  CHORES
8. IDLE                     ANGER

HINT:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1. N
2. C
3. U
4. I
5. M
6. L
7. I
8. D

Answers:

1. TRAIT.....................ANTIC
2. IONIC.....................CRONY
3. ANNEAL................CHORUS
4. WILDNESS............IRONING
5. STIPULATE...........AMPLE
6. PARLOR.................ANGEL
7. SHRED....................TIE
8. ISLE.........................INDOLENT

LETTER SWAPPING XIII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

Each word in the left-hand column below can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, the title words LETTER and SWAPPING could exchange the L in LETTER and the W in SWAPPING to form WETTER and SLAPPING. In the words INDUCT and TAINTED, the U in INDUCT and the I in TAINTED could be swapped to form INDICT and TAUNTED.

1. SOFA              WOUND
2. SIMPLE          OUCH
3. EAGER           ROUGH
4. FIELD             STRONG
5. PINTS             PAUSED
6. COMING        SWAMI
7. SNIT               SCRAPE
8. EITHER          SOILED

HINTS:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1. A
2. P
3. E
4. F
5. S
6. M
7. S
8. E

Answers:

1. SOFT................... SARONG
2. SIMILE................SWAMP
3. CAGER................SERAPE
4. WIELD.................FOUND
5. PINTO..................SUCH
6. COOING..............SMILED
7. UNIT.....................PASSED
8. HITHER...............ROUGE

LETTER SWAPPING XII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

Each word in the left-hand column below can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, the title words LETTER and SWAPPING could exchange the L in LETTER and the W in SWAPPING to form WETTER and SLAPPING. In the words CARVER and EERILY, the V in CARVER and the first E in EERILY could be swapped to form CAREER and VERILY.


1. IRON                  SUPPLE
2. CHATS               COUCH
3. CHARM             OAKEN
4. CASING             MERCY
5. INDUCT             PAST
6. SUNDAY            ORATE    
7. SLOUGH            ONLY
8. MATERIAL        TAINTED

HINTS:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1. R
2. T
3. R
4. G
5. U
6. Y
7. G
8. I

Answers:

1. ICON.......................MERRY
2. CHAOS...................TAKEN 
3. CHASM...................PART
4. CASINO..................GRATE
5. INDICT...................TAUNTED
6. SUNDAE.................SUPPLY
7. SLOUCH.................COUGH
8. MATERNAL...........OILY

LETTER SWAPPING XI
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

Each word in the left-hand column below can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, the title words LETTER and SWAPPING could exchange the L in LETTER and the W in SWAPPING to form WETTER and SLAPPING. In the words CAFE and GROWN, the F and G could be swapped to form CAGE and FROWN.

1. MEDIC                 SCROLL
2. BLAST                 GAIT
3. POLITE                WATER
4. GRAPE                 TRACE
5. DARN                   STATURE
6. INFERIOR            SAID
7. RURAL                 SEAT
8. CARVER               EERILY
9. WANT                   PHONY
10. VITAL                 AWARE

HINTS:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1. C
2. T
3. T
4. E
5. D
6. F
7. R
8. V
9. N
10. T

Answers:

1. MEDIA.................SECT
2. BLASE..................TRACT
3. POLICE................STROLL
4. GRAPH.................PEONY
5. EARN....................AWARD
6. INTERIOR...........WAFER
7. AURAL.................GRIT
8. CAREER..............VERILY
9.  WAIT....................SAND
10. VIRAL................STATUTE

LETTER SWAPPING X
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2001
Stephen Sniderman

The title words to this puzzle, LETTER and SWAPPING can trade the L and W to make WETTER and SLAPPING. Each word in the left-hand column below can swap a single letter with one of the words in the right-hand column to create two new words. For example, you can switch the C in PROTECT with the S in DIREST to create PROTEST and DIRECT.

NOTE: There may be more than one way to pair certain words, but there is only one solution which uses all the words once and only once. 

1. PROTECT            SALVO
2. LEAD                   SERIAL
3. CAFE                    DIREST
4. RATIO                  BLUE      
5. TRIES                   GROWN             
6. DIRT                     DEAR               
7. AUCTION            MOPE

HINTS:
The swapped letters from the words in the left-hand column are:
1.T
2. A
3. F
4. R
5. E
6. R
7. A

Answers:

1. PROTEST...........DIRECT
2. LEWD.................GROAN
3. CARE..................DEAF
4. PATIO................ MORE
5. TRIOS................ SALVE
6. DIET................... BLUR
7. SUCTION...........AERIAL

LETTER SWAPPING IX

SWAP SHOP
Credit: GAMES Magazine - April, 1985
Will Shortz

In each pair of words below, swap a letter in the first word with a different letter in the second word to form two new common, uncapitalized words. For example, given the words ANGLE and STAKE, swapping the G in ANGLE with the K in STAKE, gives the two new words ANKLE and STAGE.

1. MOUTH...........................STORY
2. ENACT............................TOXIC
3. IRATE..............................OGLED
4. REACH............................STOVE
5. ALIEN.............................PRONG
6. INFER..............................GRANT
7. BLIND.............................SPOOL
8. GUILD............................TENSE
9. BULGE...........................SHADE
10. SWOOP.........................BANDY
11. ROUGE.........................PHONY
12. QUOTE.........................STAIN
13. LIGHT...........................QUIET
14. MAJOR.........................NUDGE
15. SWEET..........................PLATE
16. FLUKE..........................STUNK
17. WOULD........................SHORT

Answers:

1. YOUTH - STORM
2. EXACT - TONIC
3. GRATE - OILED
4. REACT - SHOVE
5. ALIGN - PRONE
6. INNER - GRAFT
7. BLOND - SPOIL
8. GUILT - DENSE
9. BUDGE - SHALE
10. SNOOP - BAWDY
11. ROUGH - PEONY
12. QUOTA - STEIN
13. EIGHT - QUILT
14. MANOR - JUDGE
15. SWEPT - ELATE
16. FLUTE - SKUNK
17. WORLD - SHOUT

LETTER SWAPPING VIII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman   (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to make two new words. For example, given the words PRATE and COPIER, the P in PRATE and the I in COPIER could be swapped to give IRATE and COPPER.

1. LOOPING..........................TRESS
2. BEAR.................................WOULD
3. SALVO...............................TRIES
4. PROPER.............................ALIAS
5. SWORE...............................GUILD
6. CORNET.............................CHORALE
7. BARON...............................CLOSET

Answers:

1. LOOTING - PRESS
2. BEAU - WORLD
3. SALVE - TRIOS
4. PROPEL - ARIAS
5. SWORD - GUILE
6. CORNEA - CHORTLE
7. BATON - CLOSER

LETTER SWAPPING VII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to make two new words. For example, given the words FLOAT and TRUMP, the A in FLOAT and the U in TRUMP could be swapped to give FLOUT and TRAMP.

1. LIMB.......................COME
2. ELOPE.....................POST
3. GUISE......................FALTER
4. NEAT........................FLEX
5. CLAN.......................TALE
6. DIET.........................EXCUSE
7. LINT.........................CAFE
8. GINGER..................FROWN

Answers:

1. LIME - COMB
2. SLOPE - POET
3. GUILE - FASTER
4. NEXT - FLAX
5. ELAN - TALC
6. DUET - EXCISE
7. LIFT - CANE 
8. FINGER - GROWN 

LETTER SWAPPING VI
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to make two new words. For example, in the words PASTA and FELLOW, the A in PASTA and the E in FELLOW could be swapped to give PASTE and FALLOW.

1. FREE..................STRUM
2. GENIE................GRANT
3. BEGOT...............MINUS
4. REBUT...............EXPEDIENCE
5. GUILE................POST
6. FEAT...................LUMBER
7. CANT.................COLLEGE

Answers:

1. FRET - SERUM
2. GENRE - GIANT
3. BIGOT - MENUS
4. DEBUT - EXPERIENCE
5. GUILT - POSE 
6. FEET - LUMBAR
7. CENT - COLLAGE 

LETTER SWAPPING V
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to make two new words. For example, in the words SHUFFLE and COIN, the H in SHUFFLE and the O in COIN could be swapped to give SOUFFLE and CHIN.

1. ATONE.........................SUSPICIOUS
2. PLUM...........................WHISPER
3. CHORDS......................MENU
4. UPENDING..................LIES
5. BRIDGE.......................VALUE
6. SMOOTH.....................ENCOURAGE
7. BEAVER.......................LEVER
8. SPRY.............................FOAM

Answers:

1. STONE - AUSPICIOUS
2. PLUS - WHIMPER
3. CHORUS - MEND
4. SPENDING - LIEU
5. BRIDLE - VAGUE
6. SMOOCH - ENTOURAGE
7. BRAVER - LEVEE
8. SPAY - FORM

LETTER SWAPPING IV
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to create two new words. For example, in the words SERAPE and CAGER, the first E in SERAPE and the C in CAGER could be swapped to give SCRAPE and  EAGER.

1. PROBATE....................ADORE
2. APPEARED.................BUSY
3. ROOT...........................LIVELY
4. POUCH........................RADIOS
5. COMBING..................ALIEN
6. HEARTH.....................DONOR
7. CONTENT...................REBUS

Answers:

1. PRORATE - ADOBE
2. APPEASED - BURY
3. RIOT - LOVELY
4. POOCH - RADIUS
5. COMBINE - ALIGN
6. DEARTH - HONOR
7. CONSENT - REBUT

LETTER SWAPPING III
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to create two new words. For example, in the words  NOUGHT and AUGER, the H in NOUGHT and the A in AUGER could be swapped to give NOUGAT and HUGER.

1. ACCENT..................BASK
2. SIEGE......................SHRINK
3. THESE.....................BLAME
4. IRONY.....................CRISES
5. DUST.......................EMOTE
6. SEARCH.................CREPT

Answers:

1. ASCENT - BACK
2. SINGE - SHRIEK
3. THEME - BLASE
4. CRONY - IRISES
5. DUET - SMOTE
6. STARCH - CREPE 
 

LETTER SWAPPING II
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to create two new words. For example, in the words SPOT and ORISON, the T in SPOT and the first O in ORISON could be swapped to give SOOT and PRISON.

1. BRING...................COFFEE
2. SERAPE.................CAGER
3. VECTOR................CURRY
4. ITEM......................ZITS
5. GOAT.....................SNARED
6. TAUT.....................CRANIUM
7. WHISTLE.............SLOTH
8. PREVIOUS ..........CONCERTS

Answers:

1. BEING - COFFER
2. SCRAPE - EAGER 
3. RECTOR - CURVY
4. STEM - ZITI
5. GNAT - SOARED
6. TACT - URANIUM
7. WHITTLE - SLOSH 
8. PRECIOUS - CONVERTS

LETTER SWAPPING I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
August, 2009
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

The words in each pair below can swap a single letter to create two new words. For example, in the words LETTER and SWAPPING, the L and W can be traded to create WETTER  and SLAPPING. In RECENT and RAPIER, the C and P can be exchanged to make REPENT and RACIER.

1. DISH..........................CELLO
2. TUBE.........................PASTA
3. CANNING.................FLUSH
4. SQUIRT.....................SCENE
5. SEAM........................SMITH
6. WRITER...................WAIST

Answers:

1. DISC.........................HELLO
2. TUBA........................PASTE
3. CUNNING................FLASH
4. SQUIRE....................SCENT
5. SHAM.......................SMITE
6. WAITER...................WRIST

NOTE: This puzzle, and the others like it (LETTER SWAPPING I - VIII), can be made more difficult by mixing up the words in the second column.