Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for April 22, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, April 22, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was NEARS to HEART, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was LITE to BRAZED, 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: NEARS to HEART

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. N becomes H
  3. S becomes T

Words in this ladder

NEARS verb
move towards
HEARS verb
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
HEART noun
the locus of feelings and intuitions

Puzzle 2: PUTS to CUTES

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. P becomes C
  3. add E

Words in this ladder

PUTS noun
the option to sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date
CUTS noun
a share of the profits
CUTES noun
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

Puzzle 3: WICKS to RAGINGS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. C becomes N
  3. K becomes G
  4. add A
  5. W becomes G
  6. add R

Words in this ladder

WICKS noun
any piece of cord that conveys liquid by capillary action
WINKS noun
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
WINGS noun
a means of flight or ascent
AWINGS verb
inspire awe in
AGINGS noun
acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
RAGINGS verb
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

Puzzle 4: FORDS to PACER

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. D becomes E
  3. O becomes A
  4. R becomes C
  5. F becomes P
  6. S becomes R

Words in this ladder

FORDS noun
United States film maker (1896-1973)
FORES noun
front part of a vessel or aircraft
FARES noun
an agenda of things to do
FACES noun
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
PACES noun
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
PACER noun
a horse used to set the pace in racing

Puzzle 5: LITE to BRAZED

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  2. I becomes A
  3. L becomes R
  4. E becomes S
  5. add E
  6. T becomes Z
  7. add B
  8. S becomes D

Words in this ladder

LITE adjective
having relatively few calories
LATE adjective
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
RATE noun
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
RATS noun
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
RATES noun
a local tax on property (usually used in the plural)
RAZES verb
tear down so as to make flat with the ground
BRAZES verb
solder together by using hard solder with a high melting point
BRAZED verb
solder together by using hard solder with a high melting point

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