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What is the least amount of words you can use in a word chain when starting from "Dawn", using "Noon" in the middle, and finishing with "Dusk", and using only 4 letter words? Please try to stick to "regular" words (i.e. something found in the dictionary or that would be used in a crossword, no abbreviations).

Example word chain:
Hear
Bear
Beat
Feat
Feet
Fret
Etc....

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  • $\begingroup$ By "in the middle" do you mean it has to be exactly in the middle, or just anywhere inside the ladder? $\endgroup$ Nov 4, 2019 at 14:59
  • $\begingroup$ @JaapScherphuis Anywhere in the ladder between Dawn and Dusk $\endgroup$ Nov 4, 2019 at 15:03
  • $\begingroup$ You have to be more specific about what’s considered a “regular” word, since otherwise the answer can vary depending on the dictionary/crossword clue service that is used $\endgroup$
    – HTM
    Nov 4, 2019 at 20:03

2 Answers 2

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Here is a chain with 8 letter changes (edited question)

Dawn
Down
Doon
Noon
Nook
Nock
Dock
Duck
Dusk

Could also replace Doon with Nown

Here is a chain with 5 letter changes (original question)

Dawn
Darn
Dark
Dack
Duck
Dusk

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  • $\begingroup$ Check my edited question, I decided to add a small challenge :) $\endgroup$ Nov 4, 2019 at 14:41
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    $\begingroup$ @ThatOneNerdyBoy That completely changes the question... $\endgroup$
    – Avi
    Nov 4, 2019 at 14:42
  • $\begingroup$ @Avi I am aware, I merely forgot to add that middle requirement. That's my bad! $\endgroup$ Nov 4, 2019 at 14:43
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12 changes:

DAWN -> DOWN -> GOWN -> GOON -> NOON -> NOOK -> NORK -> DORK -> DARK -> BARK -> BASK -> BUSK -> DUSK

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  • $\begingroup$ Check my edited question, I decided to add a small challenge :) $\endgroup$ Nov 4, 2019 at 14:41
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    $\begingroup$ @ThatOneNerdyBoy please don't make substantial changes to questions after posting, and even more so if the question has already been answered. The Stack Exchange model breaks down if you do that, resulting in upvoted answers not matching the question, and legit answers being downvoted because they answer a different question. This is a bit less important on other sites, but on PSE, changing the required answer is pretty drastic. $\endgroup$
    – Bass
    Nov 4, 2019 at 17:30
  • $\begingroup$ @Bass I understand and will take this into account in the future! $\endgroup$ Nov 4, 2019 at 17:31

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