Word ladder answers for May 3, 2026
The daily ladder for Sunday, May 3, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was RAJA to NAGS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was BIDES to HAREM, which needs at least 4.
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: RAJA to NAGS
Show the solution
- A becomes S
- J becomes G
- R becomes N
Words in this ladder
- RAJA noun
- a prince or king in India
- RAJS noun
- British dominion over India (1757-1947)
- RAGS noun
- a small piece of cloth or paper
- NAGS noun
- someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault
Puzzle 2: CARE to FARMS
Show the solution
- E becomes S
- C becomes F
- add M
Words in this ladder
- CARE noun
- the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
- CARS noun
- a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- FARS noun
- a terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the government dominated by Tutsi and to institute Hutu control again
- FARMS noun
- workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
Puzzle 3: BIDES to HAREM
Show the solution
- B becomes H
- D becomes R
- I becomes A
- S becomes M
Words in this ladder
- BIDES verb
- dwell
- HIDES noun
- the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
- HIRES noun
- a newly hired employee
- HARES noun
- swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
- HAREM noun
- living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household
Puzzle 4: RUGS to JESTS
Show the solution
- G becomes T
- add S
- U becomes E
- R becomes J
Words in this ladder
- RUGS noun
- floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
- RUTS noun
- a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)
- RUSTS noun
- a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
- RESTS noun
- something left after other parts have been taken away
- JESTS noun
- a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
Puzzle 5: WESER to WASHER
Show the solution
- add T
- E becomes A
- T becomes H
Words in this ladder
- WESER noun
- a river in northwestern Germany that flows northward to the North Sea near Bremerhaven
- WESTER noun
- wind that blows from west to east
- WASTER noun
- someone who dissipates resources self-indulgently
- WASHER noun
- someone who washes things for a living
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