Golomb's Gambits: Change a Letter

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Published Fall 2021

The following puzzle first appeared in June 2002.

In each of the following word pairs, the two specified words differ only in the letter position indicated by "*." Thus, the solution to "poisonous _ _ * _ _ stimulant" is "TOXIC/TONIC."

  1. leave a mark * _ _ _ _ _ _ female ruler
  2. ugly _ _ _ _ _ _ * lair
  3. easily molded * _ _ _ _ _ _ easily stretched
  4. petroleum jelly * _ _ _ _ _ _ _ reference level
  5. cellar * _ _ _ _ _ _ _ hinged window frame
  6. impending _ _ _ * _ _ _ _ omnipresent
  7. earlier form _ _ _ * _ _ _ _ mirror image
  8. faulty _ _ * _ _ _ _ _ _ investigator
  9. remedy _ _ _ _ * _ _ _ _ _ mental concentration
  10. government departments _ _ _ _ _ * _ _ _ _ several episode TV program
Illustration of Solomon Golomb reads 'Scroll down for solution'

Golomb's answers:

  1. IMPRESS/EMPRESS
  2. HIDEOUS/HIDEOUT
  3. PLASTIC/ELASTIC
  4. VASELINE/BASELINE
  5. BASEMENT/CASEMENT
  6. IMMINENT/IMMANENT
  7. ANTETYPE/ANTITYPE
  8. DEFECTIVE/DETECTIVE
  9. MEDICATION/MEDITATION
  10. MINISTRIES/MINISERIES