Word ladder answers for April 12, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, April 12, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was BITS to RAPS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was MYG to MANGER, 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: BITS to RAPS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. I becomes A
  2. B becomes R
  3. T becomes P

Words in this ladder

BITS noun
a small piece or quantity of something
BATS noun
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
RATS noun
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
RAPS noun
a reproach for some lapse or misdeed

Puzzle 2: SOW to ROSE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. S becomes R
  2. W becomes E
  3. add S

Words in this ladder

SOW noun
an adult female hog
ROW noun
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
ROE noun
fish eggs or egg-filled ovary; having a grainy texture
ROSE noun
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

Puzzle 3: GETS to CASTES

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. E becomes A
  2. G becomes C
  3. add S
  4. add E

Words in this ladder

GETS noun
a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
GATS noun
a gangster's pistol
CATS noun
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
CASTS noun
the actors in a play
CASTES noun
social status or position conferred by a system based on class

Puzzle 4: BULB to YAWL

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. B becomes L
  2. U becomes A
  3. L becomes W
  4. B becomes Y

Words in this ladder

BULB noun
a modified bud consisting of a thickened globular underground stem serving as a reproductive structure
BULL noun
uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle
BALL noun
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
BAWL verb
shout loudly and without restraint
YAWL noun
a ship's small boat (usually rowed by 4 or 6 oars)

Puzzle 5: MYG to MANGER

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  1. Y becomes A
  2. G becomes S
  3. add N
  4. add E
  5. add G
  6. S becomes R

Words in this ladder

MYG noun
one ten thousandth of a centner
MAG noun
a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
MAS noun
informal terms for a mother
MANS noun
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
MANES noun
a Persian prophet who founded Manichaeism (216-276)
MANGES noun
a persistent and contagious disease of the skin causing inflammation and itching and loss of hair; affects domestic animals (and sometimes people)
MANGER noun
a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed

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