Answer to Puzzle Contest (from the winner):

"BCDE- brocade
CDEF- codefendant
DEFG- defrag"

Other accepted answers include: absconded, defog, defiling, blockade, indefatigable, barricade, deafening, backdate, candlesnuffer, defogger, debriefing, candlefish (never heard of this one until today!), biocide, defragment, backside, decalcifying, & barcode. There are surely others as well.

Winner: Michelle Nichols

Contest Statistics: 15 answers submitted, 14 answers correct, 93.33% accuracy. Chance of a correct answer winning: 7.14%.