Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for February 9, 2026

The daily ladder for Monday, February 9, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was CORD to CAFE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was GUTS to TELLY, which needs at least 6.

Each solution below is hidden until you open it, so you can try the puzzle first. A shortest solution is shown for every puzzle; many ladders have more than one path of the same length, so yours may differ and still be optimal.

Puzzle 1: CORD to CAFE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 4 players · 100% found a shortest path · 3.0 steps on average

Show the solution
  2. D becomes E
  3. O becomes A
  4. R becomes F

Words in this ladder

CORD noun
a line made of twisted fibers or threads
CORE noun
a small group of indispensable persons or things
CARE noun
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
CAFE noun
a small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold

Puzzle 2: SEES to DUEL

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  2. E becomes U
  3. S becomes D
  4. S becomes L

Words in this ladder

SEES noun
the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
SUES noun
French writer whose novels described the sordid side of city life (1804-1857)
DUES noun
that which is deserved or owed
DUEL noun
a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor

Puzzle 3: LOGS to NONES

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  2. L becomes D
  3. G becomes E
  4. add N
  5. D becomes N

Words in this ladder

LOGS noun
a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
DOGS noun
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
DOES noun
the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977
DONES verb
put clothing on one's body
NONES noun
the fifth of the seven canonical hours; about 3 p.m.

Puzzle 4: VASE to PITH

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. V becomes B
  3. E becomes H
  4. S becomes T
  5. B becomes P
  6. A becomes I

Words in this ladder

VASE noun
an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers
BASE noun
installation from which a military force initiates operations
BASH noun
a vigorous blow
BATH noun
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
PATH noun
a course of conduct
PITH noun
soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants

Puzzle 5: GUTS to TELLY

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  2. U becomes E
  3. G becomes B
  4. add L
  5. T becomes L
  6. S becomes Y
  7. B becomes T

Words in this ladder

GUTS noun
fortitude and determination
GETS noun
a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
BETS noun
the money risked on a gamble
BELTS noun
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
BELLS noun
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
BELLY noun
the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis
TELLY noun
an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen

Today's puzzles are waiting

A new set of word ladders is released every day, free to play.

Play today's ladder