What is Whittle?

Whittle is a daily word transformation puzzle that requires you to change one word into another using only two operations: DROP removes a letter and ADD inserts one. Every intermediate step must form a valid English word. The game displays a starting word, a target word, and a par that indicates the expected number of moves.

How to play Whittle

  1. Read the daily prompt for the starting word, target word, and par.
  2. In DROP mode, tap a letter in the current word to remove it.
  3. Switch to ADD mode and type a letter with your keyboard.
  4. Make sure each new word is valid before making the next move.
  5. Keep alternating between DROP and ADD until you reach the target word.
  6. Compare your number of moves with the par.

The bottleneck word

Because you cannot replace letters, you need a short, familiar word that links the start and target. Finding it is usually the key to an efficient path. The par reflects the intended route, so this connecting word is the puzzle's main challenge.

The header displays your move count beside the par throughout the game. The word itself grows or shrinks by one letter each turn. Unlike many word games, Whittle uses no color coding during play—tiles stay white and feedback comes through length changes and the move counter. A wrong move costs you a letter and uses up a turn.

Tips for efficient paths

  • Calculate the minimum moves first. Each turn changes the word length by exactly one letter, so the difference in length between the start and target sets a lower bound.
  • Expect to shrink before expanding. Since letters cannot be replaced directly, you often need to reduce the starting word to a short core before building toward the target.
  • Use the visible target. The goal word remains displayed under the GOAL label, so you can see which letters to preserve when deciding what to drop.

Common questions

Can you replace one letter directly?
No. Whittle only allows DROP and ADD, so changing a letter requires passing through a shorter or longer intermediate word.

Does the par limit your moves?
No. The par is a target for comparison, and no attempt cap is shown.

Must every step be a real word?
Yes. Every intermediate word must be valid English, not just the start and finish.