Seven letter words change one or two letter to make a new word

[Prof.Pepperwinkle]

gargled

[buddha_david]

gambled

[Elendil_s_Heir]

gambler

[buddha_david]

regalia

[Annie-Xmas]

gallery

[Prof.Pepperwinkle]

smaller

[Elendil_s_Heir]

mailers

[Annie-Xmas]

sailors

[buddha_david]

slasher

[burpo_the_wonder_mutt]

slushie

[buddha_david]

hessian

[Annie-Xmas]

lesbian

[buddha_david]

explain

[Elendil_s_Heir]

plainly

[buddha_david]

alpines

[septimus]

grapnel
(

@Prof.Pepperwinkle

@septimus

BTW, it appears that, at least if reusing words is allowed, every 7-letter word can be reached except zymurgy.)

(Perhaps if foreign language words are used, even zymurgy can be reached one day. Perhaps.)

I retract my claim. From grapnel, zymurgy can be reached in just 3 more turns! The word that leads directly to zymurgy may be slightly odd-looking – but it is in dictionaries, occurs in songs, etc., and even appears in a song title.)

[Annie-Xmas]

grapple

[Elendil_s_Heir]

dappled

[buddha_david]

applies

[septimus]

ampules

(zymurgy in three.)