Word ladder answers for April 14, 2026
The daily ladder for Tuesday, April 14, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was PALE to TAME, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was OWL to MOTORED, 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: PALE to TAME
Show the solution
- P becomes T
- L becomes M
Words in this ladder
- PALE noun
- a wooden strip forming part of a fence
- TALE noun
- a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
- TAME verb
- correct by punishment or discipline
Puzzle 2: JAY to BANG
Show the solution
- J becomes B
- Y becomes G
- add N
Words in this ladder
- JAY noun
- United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)
- BAY noun
- an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
- BAG noun
- a flexible container with a single opening
- BANG noun
- a vigorous blow
Puzzle 3: TOT to MYTHS
Show the solution
- T becomes M
- T becomes S
- add T
- add H
- O becomes Y
Words in this ladder
- TOT noun
- a small amount (especially of a drink)
- MOT noun
- a clever remark
- MOS noun
- an indefinitely short time
- MOTS noun
- a clever remark
- MOTHS noun
- typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
- MYTHS noun
- a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people
Puzzle 4: HOPER to LORDS
Show the solution
- R becomes S
- H becomes L
- P becomes R
- E becomes D
Words in this ladder
- HOPER noun
- a person who hopes
- HOPES noun
- a specific instance of feeling hopeful
- LOPES noun
- a slow pace of running
- LORES noun
- knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote
- LORDS noun
- terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
Puzzle 5: OWL to MOTORED
Show the solution
- add F
- W becomes O
- L becomes D
- F becomes M
- add E
- add R
- add T
Words in this ladder
- OWL noun
- nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
- FOWL noun
- a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
- FOOL noun
- a person who lacks good judgment
- FOOD noun
- any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
- MOOD noun
- a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
- MOOED verb
- make a low noise, characteristic of bovines
- MOORED verb
- secure in or as if in a berth or dock
- MOTORED verb
- travel or be transported in a vehicle
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