Will Shortz's Holiday Puzzle
O's Gift to You!
In each pair of words below, one word can give one of its letters to the other (without rearranging letters
in either word) to produce two synonyms. Can you find them? Which word "gives" and which one
"receives" is for you to determine.
Ex. BUN STRING_________________
Here, string can give its r to bun to produce burn and sting.
1. QUIET LAVE _________________
2. PAT PIERCE_________________
3. FLAIR PEASANT_________________
4. WREAK FAIL_________________
5. LOT CLOUD_________________
6. MANLY MOISTLY_________________
7. WREATH RAG_________________
8. EXITED CAROUSED_________________
9. HEARTH MOO_________________
10. VIOLET RANGING_________________
11. PET IMPRUDENT_________________
12. HIDEOUS DENTS_________________
13. BLUFFER SHIED_________________
14. WEARY CARFUL_________________
15. BOAR SALON_________________
16. SIMULATE SPURT _________________
**Scroll down for the answers**
Ex. BUN STRING_________________
Here, string can give its r to bun to produce burn and sting.
1. QUIET LAVE _________________
2. PAT PIERCE_________________
3. FLAIR PEASANT_________________
4. WREAK FAIL_________________
5. LOT CLOUD_________________
6. MANLY MOISTLY_________________
7. WREATH RAG_________________
8. EXITED CAROUSED_________________
9. HEARTH MOO_________________
10. VIOLET RANGING_________________
11. PET IMPRUDENT_________________
12. HIDEOUS DENTS_________________
13. BLUFFER SHIED_________________
14. WEARY CARFUL_________________
15. BOAR SALON_________________
16. SIMULATE SPURT _________________
**Scroll down for the answers**
Answers: 1. quit, leave 2. part, piece 3. fair, pleasant 4. weak, frail 5. lout, clod 6. mainly, mostly 7. wrath, rage 8. excited, aroused 9. heath, moor 10. violent, raging 11. pert, impudent 12. hideouts, dens 13. buffer, shield 14. wary, careful 15. bar, saloon 16. stimulate, spur