Word puzzle by the hearth

It was a quiet evening in the mountains, and the cabin nestled among the pine trees stood strong against the autumn chill. Inside, the warmth of a wood-burning stove filled the room, casting a flickering glow on the wooden walls. Badger and Yote sat at their rough-hewn table, a pot of stew bubbling nearby, as they enjoyed a well-earned rest after a long day of stacking firewood and preparing their homestead for winter.

Yote reclined in his chair, boots propped on the table’s edge. "I love these evenings," he said with a contented sigh. "Nothing to do but sit back, relax, and stir up a good puzzle."

Badger, as usual, was already a step ahead. He leaned forward, pawing through a worn notebook filled with riddles, word puzzles, and clever tricks. “I’ve got one for you, Yote,” Badger said with a sly grin. “This one’s a bit of a brain-bender.”

Yote straightened up, his curiosity piqued. "Hit me with it."

Badger read aloud: “Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, you have to create two synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast - Hip, if you move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip,' you create two synonyms: Boat - Ship.”

Yote rubbed his paws together, the firelight glinting in his eye. "That’s a good one. Let’s hear the rest."

Badger listed off the word pairs:

1. Pain - Nil

2. War - Zoned

3. Routing - Tip

4. Shot - Teaming

5. Right - Blight

By moving one letter from one word to the other, create a pair of synonyms or near synonyms. Some of these are tricky, but keep your eye on those hidden meanings!

🧠 Puzzles like these are excellent for sharpening your problem-solving skills and enhancing your vocabulary. Just like life in the mountains, they remind us that sometimes all it takes is a small adjustment to see things differently. And the fun part? These little challenges can turn an ordinary evening into a memory worth savoring.