Word ladder answers for March 31, 2026

The daily ladder for Tuesday, March 31, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was RASH to ABASH, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was BEER to RESENTS, 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: DUN to GAB

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps ยท Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  1. N becomes B
  2. U becomes A
  3. D becomes G

Words in this ladder

DUN noun
horse of a dull brownish grey color
DUB noun
the new sounds added by dubbing
DAB noun
a light touch or stroke
GAB noun
light informal conversation for social occasions

Puzzle 2: RASH to ABASH

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  1. R becomes B
  2. add A

Words in this ladder

RASH noun
any red eruption of the skin
BASH noun
a vigorous blow
ABASH verb
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious

Puzzle 3: BEER to RESENTS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. R becomes S
  2. add T
  3. add S
  4. B becomes R
  5. add N

Words in this ladder

BEER noun
a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops
BEES noun
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
BEETS noun
biennial Eurasian plant usually having a swollen edible root; widely cultivated as a food crop
BESETS verb
annoy continually or chronically
RESETS noun
device for resetting instruments or controls
RESENTS verb
feel bitter or indignant about

Puzzle 4: FUEL to FADO

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. E becomes R
  2. L becomes S
  3. U becomes A
  4. R becomes D
  5. S becomes O

Words in this ladder

FUEL noun
a substance that can be consumed to produce energy
FURL verb
form into a cylinder by rolling
FURS noun
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
FARS noun
a terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the government dominated by Tutsi and to institute Hutu control again
FADS noun
an interest followed with exaggerated zeal
FADO noun
a sad Portuguese folksong

Puzzle 5: PENT to JAMES

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. T becomes S
  2. E becomes A
  3. P becomes J
  4. N becomes M
  5. add E

Words in this ladder

PENT verb
produce a literary work
PENS noun
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
PANS noun
cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
JANS noun
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
JAMS noun
preserve of crushed fruit
JAMES noun
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

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