You get 5 attempts to get as close as possible to the target word. Your best (lowest) score across all 5 is your final result.
Type any real word and toggle + or − to combine it with your current word.
The result gets ranked against the target's list of closest words - the lower the number, the closer you are.
Each attempt chains onto the last, so you can keep steering your word - or branch back to an earlier one for free. After 5 attempts (or sooner, if you land exactly on the target), your single best rank becomes your score. Lower wins.