Word ladder answers for April 10, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, April 10, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was WIND to GILD, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was RASHTS to BUNGED, which needs at least 7.
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: WIND to GILD
Show the solution
- N becomes L
- W becomes G
Words in this ladder
- WIND noun
- air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
- WILD noun
- a wild primitive state untouched by civilization
- GILD noun
- a formal association of people with similar interests
Puzzle 2: CORD to CAFE
Show the solution
- D becomes E
- O becomes A
- 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 3: RICERS to LEAKERS
Show the solution
- C becomes V
- R becomes L
- I becomes E
- add A
- V becomes K
Words in this ladder
- RICERS noun
- a kitchen utensil used for ricing soft foods by extruding them through small holes
- RIVERS noun
- a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
- LIVERS noun
- large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes
- LEVERS noun
- a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
- LEAVERS noun
- someone who leaves
- LEAKERS noun
- a surreptitious informant
Puzzle 4: COWS to CLEATS
Show the solution
- W becomes T
- O becomes A
- add H
- add E
- H becomes L
Words in this ladder
- COWS noun
- domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age; ; ; - Bible
- COTS noun
- a sheath worn to protect a finger
- CATS noun
- feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
- CHATS noun
- an informal conversation
- CHEATS noun
- weedy annual grass often occurs in grainfields and other cultivated land; seeds sometimes considered poisonous
- CLEATS noun
- shoes with leather or metal projections on the soles
Puzzle 5: RASHTS to BUNGED
Show the solution
- T becomes E
- A becomes U
- S becomes D
- H becomes T
- R becomes B
- S becomes N
- T becomes G
Words in this ladder
- RASHTS noun
- city in northwestern Iran near the Caspian Sea
- RASHES noun
- any red eruption of the skin
- RUSHES noun
- the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
- RUSHED verb
- move fast
- RUSTED verb
- become destroyed by water, air, or a corrosive such as an acid
- BUSTED verb
- ruin completely
- BUNTED verb
- hit a ball in such a way so as to make it go a short distance
- BUNGED verb
- give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the compensation agreed on
Today's puzzles are waiting
A new set of word ladders is released every day, free to play.
Play today's ladder