Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for April 23, 2026

The daily ladder for Thursday, April 23, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was CABS to CAMPS, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was KINE to FRIDGE, which needs at least 5.

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: BEDS to BALES

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. E becomes A
  3. add L
  4. D becomes E

Words in this ladder

BEDS noun
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
BADS noun
that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency
BALDS verb
grow bald; lose hair on one's head
BALES noun
a large bundle bound for storage or transport

Puzzle 2: CABS to CAMPS

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. B becomes P
  3. add M

Words in this ladder

CABS noun
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
CAPS noun
a tight-fitting headdress
CAMPS noun
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

Puzzle 3: KINE to FRIDGE

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

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

Words in this ladder

KINE noun
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age; ; ; - Bible
WINE noun
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
WIDE adjective
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
RIDE noun
a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)
RIDGE noun
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
FRIDGE noun
a refrigerator in which the coolant is pumped around by an electric motor

Puzzle 4: FIG to DUKE

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. F becomes D
  3. G becomes E
  4. I becomes U
  5. add K

Words in this ladder

FIG noun
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
DIG noun
the site of an archeological exploration
DIE noun
a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
DUE noun
that which is deserved or owed
DUKE noun
a British peer of the highest rank

Puzzle 5: BOONS to COOTIES

Hard Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. N becomes T
  3. add E
  4. add I
  5. B becomes C

Words in this ladder

BOONS noun
a desirable state
BOOTS noun
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
BOOTES noun
a constellation in the northern hemisphere near Ursa Major
BOOTIES noun
a slipper that is soft and wool (for babies)
COOTIES noun
a parasitic louse that infests the body of human beings

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