Word ladder answers for March 28, 2026

The daily ladder for Saturday, March 28, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was FARE to CASTE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was BORE to CHATS, 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: FARE to CASTE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. F becomes C
  2. R becomes S
  3. add T

Words in this ladder

FARE noun
an agenda of things to do
CARE noun
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
CASE noun
an occurrence of something
CASTE noun
social status or position conferred by a system based on class

Puzzle 2: STALK to WHALE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. K becomes E
  2. T becomes H
  3. S becomes W

Words in this ladder

STALK noun
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
STALE verb
urinate, of cattle and horses
SHALE noun
a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition of successive layers of clay
WHALE noun
a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

Puzzle 3: OINK to WENDS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. O becomes W
  2. K becomes S
  3. add D
  4. I becomes E

Words in this ladder

OINK noun
the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs
WINK noun
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
WINS noun
a victory (as in a race or other competition)
WINDS noun
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
WENDS verb
direct one's course or way

Puzzle 4: BORE to CHATS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. O becomes A
  2. B becomes C
  3. E becomes S
  4. R becomes T
  5. add H

Words in this ladder

BORE noun
a person who evokes boredom
BARE verb
lay bare
CARE noun
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
CARS noun
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
CATS noun
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
CHATS noun
an informal conversation

Puzzle 5: STEPPED to SNEEZES

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. P becomes E
  2. P becomes R
  3. T becomes N
  4. R becomes Z
  5. D becomes S

Words in this ladder

STEPPED verb
shift or move by taking a step
STEEPED verb
devote (oneself) fully to
STEERED verb
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
SNEERED verb
express through a scornful smile
SNEEZED verb
exhale spasmodically, as when an irritant entered one's nose
SNEEZES noun
a symptom consisting of the involuntary expulsion of air from the nose

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