Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for March 16, 2026

The daily ladder for Monday, March 16, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was LIPS to LODES, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was MENS to OZONE, which needs at least 5.

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: LIPS to LODES

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. I becomes O
  3. add E
  4. P becomes D

Words in this ladder

LIPS noun
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
LOPS verb
cut off from a whole
LOPES noun
a slow pace of running
LODES noun
a deposit of valuable ore occurring within definite boundaries separating it from surrounding rocks

Puzzle 2: BACK to TANG

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. C becomes N
  3. B becomes T
  4. K becomes G

Words in this ladder

BACK noun
the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
BANK noun
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
TANK noun
an enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads
TANG noun
a tart spicy quality

Puzzle 3: MENS to OZONE

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. M becomes T
  3. E becomes O
  4. S becomes E
  5. T becomes Z
  6. add O

Words in this ladder

MENS noun
the force of workers available
TENS noun
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
TONS noun
a large number or amount
TONE noun
the quality of a person's voice
ZONE noun
a locally circumscribed place characterized by some distinctive features
OZONE noun
a colorless gas (O3) soluble in alkalis and cold water; a strong oxidizing agent; can be produced by electric discharge in oxygen or by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen in the stratosphere (where it acts as a screen for ultraviolet radiation)

Puzzle 4: SERIFS to VALVES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. F becomes E
  3. I becomes V
  4. R becomes L
  5. E becomes A
  6. S becomes V

Words in this ladder

SERIFS noun
a short line at the end of the main strokes of a character
SERIES noun
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
SERVES noun
(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
SELVES noun
your consciousness of your own identity
SALVES noun
semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
VALVES noun
a structure in a hollow organ (like the heart) with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it

Puzzle 5: RUSES to FORAGES

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. U becomes A
  3. S becomes G
  4. add B
  5. add O
  6. B becomes F

Words in this ladder

RUSES noun
a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
RASES noun
the network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal function
RAGES noun
a feeling of intense anger
BRAGES noun
(Norse mythology) god of poetry and music; son of Odin
BORAGES noun
hairy blue-flowered European annual herb long used in herbal medicine and eaten raw as salad greens or cooked like spinach
FORAGES noun
bulky food like grass or hay for browsing or grazing horses or cattle

Today's puzzles are waiting

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

Play today's ladder