Word ladder answers for February 13, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, February 13, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was BEETS to BUTTS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was ROODS to TELLUS, 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: BEETS to BUTTS
Show the solution
- E becomes S
- E becomes U
- S becomes T
Words in this ladder
- BEETS noun
- biennial Eurasian plant usually having a swollen edible root; widely cultivated as a food crop
- BESTS noun
- the supreme effort one can make
- BUSTS noun
- a complete failure
- BUTTS noun
- thick end of the handle
Puzzle 2: BAWL to BOPS
Show the solution
- A becomes O
- L becomes S
- W becomes P
Words in this ladder
- BAWL verb
- shout loudly and without restraint
- BOWL noun
- a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
- BOWS noun
- a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
- BOPS noun
- the law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimes
Puzzle 3: CONY to BOOZY
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- N becomes Z
- C becomes O
- add B
Words in this ladder
- CONY noun
- any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes
- COZY noun
- a padded cloth covering to keep a teapot warm
- OOZY adjective
- leaking out slowly
- BOOZY adjective
- given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
Puzzle 4: MILD to LEAST
Show the solution
- D becomes T
- L becomes S
- M becomes L
- I becomes A
- add E
Words in this ladder
- MILD adjective
- moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
- MILT noun
- fish sperm or sperm-filled reproductive gland; having a creamy texture
- MIST noun
- a thin fog with condensation near the ground
- LIST noun
- a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics)
- LAST noun
- the temporal end; the concluding time
- LEAST noun
- something that is of no importance
Puzzle 5: ROODS to TELLUS
Show the solution
- R becomes W
- D becomes L
- W becomes T
- O becomes L
- O becomes E
- add U
Words in this ladder
- ROODS noun
- representation of the cross on which Jesus died
- WOODS noun
- the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
- WOOLS noun
- a fabric made from the hair of sheep
- TOOLS noun
- an implement used in the practice of a vocation
- TOLLS noun
- a fee levied for the use of roads or bridges (used for maintenance)
- TELLS noun
- a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
- TELLUS noun
- (Roman mythology) goddess of the earth; protector of marriage and fertility; identified with Greek Gaea
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