Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for April 19, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, April 19, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was JAM to CUR, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was PERKY to ABASES, 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: JAM to CUR

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. M becomes R
  3. J becomes C
  4. A becomes U

Words in this ladder

JAM noun
preserve of crushed fruit
JAR noun
a vessel (usually cylindrical) with a wide mouth and without handles
CAR noun
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
CUR noun
an inferior dog or one of mixed breed

Puzzle 2: CELLS to TILTS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. C becomes T
  3. E becomes I
  4. L becomes T

Words in this ladder

CELLS noun
any small compartment
TELLS noun
a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
TILLS noun
unstratified soil deposited by a glacier; consists of sand and clay and gravel and boulders mixed together
TILTS noun
a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with blunted lances

Puzzle 3: TOPI to WANES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. I becomes S
  3. O becomes A
  4. P becomes N
  5. T becomes W
  6. add E

Words in this ladder

TOPI noun
a lightweight hat worn in tropical countries for protection from the sun
TOPS noun
the upper part of anything
TAPS noun
(military) signal to turn the lights out
TANS noun
a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
WANS noun
a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network
WANES noun
a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)

Puzzle 4: EON to WARTS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. E becomes W
  3. add R
  4. O becomes A
  5. N becomes S
  6. add T

Words in this ladder

EON noun
the longest division of geological time
WON noun
the basic unit of money in South Korea
WORN verb
be dressed in
WARN verb
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
WARS noun
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
WARTS noun
any small rounded protuberance (as on certain plants or animals)

Puzzle 5: PERKY to ABASES

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  2. Y becomes S
  3. E becomes A
  4. P becomes B
  5. K becomes E
  6. R becomes S
  7. add A

Words in this ladder

PERKY adjective
characterized by liveliness and lightheartedness
PERKS noun
an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)
PARKS noun
United States civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery (Alabama) and so triggered the national Civil Rights movement (born in 1913)
BARKS noun
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
BARES verb
lay bare
BASES noun
installation from which a military force initiates operations
ABASES noun
a loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth; worn by Arabs

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