Word ladder answers for May 1, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, May 1, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was FOUR to POUT, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was RIOTS to BURROS, 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: TINS to PIPES
Show the solution
- N becomes E
- T becomes P
- add P
Words in this ladder
- TINS noun
- a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
- TIES noun
- neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
- PIES noun
- dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
- PIPES noun
- a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
Puzzle 2: FOUR to POUT
Show the solution
- F becomes P
- R becomes T
Words in this ladder
- FOUR noun
- the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
- POUR verb
- cause to run
- POUT noun
- a disdainful grimace
Puzzle 3: KEG to LARK
Show the solution
- K becomes L
- E becomes A
- G becomes D
- add R
- D becomes K
Words in this ladder
- KEG noun
- the quantity contained in a keg
- LEG noun
- a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
- LAG noun
- the act of slowing down or falling behind
- LAD noun
- a boy or man
- LARD noun
- soft white semisolid fat obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of the hog
- LARK noun
- North American songbirds having a yellow breast
Puzzle 4: BOOS to VIMS
Show the solution
- O becomes B
- B becomes R
- O becomes I
- B becomes M
- R becomes V
Words in this ladder
- BOOS noun
- a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
- BOBS noun
- a former monetary unit in Great Britain
- ROBS verb
- take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
- RIBS noun
- support resembling the rib of an animal
- RIMS noun
- the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
- VIMS noun
- a healthy capacity for vigorous activity
Puzzle 5: RIOTS to BURROS
Show the solution
- I becomes O
- R becomes B
- T becomes N
- O becomes R
- O becomes U
- N becomes R
- add O
Words in this ladder
- RIOTS noun
- a public act of violence by an unruly mob
- ROOTS noun
- the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
- BOOTS noun
- footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
- BOONS noun
- a desirable state
- BORNS noun
- British nuclear physicist (born in Germany) honored for his contributions to quantum mechanics (1882-1970)
- BURNS noun
- United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
- BURRS noun
- seed vessel having hooks or prickles
- BURROS noun
- small donkey used as a pack animal
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