Word ladder answers for May 6, 2026
The daily ladder for Wednesday, May 6, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was TAPA to SNAPS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was READER to SPINNEY, 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: TAPA to SNAPS
Show the solution
- A becomes S
- T becomes N
- add S
Words in this ladder
- TAPA noun
- the thin fibrous bark of the paper mulberry and Pipturus albidus
- TAPS noun
- (military) signal to turn the lights out
- NAPS noun
- a period of time spent sleeping
- SNAPS noun
- the act of catching an object with the hands
Puzzle 2: MARE to GAUZE
Show the solution
- R becomes Z
- M becomes G
- add U
Words in this ladder
- MARE noun
- female equine animal
- MAZE noun
- complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
- GAZE noun
- a long fixed look
- GAUZE noun
- (medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
Puzzle 3: SITS to STEW
Show the solution
- I becomes E
- T becomes E
- S becomes M
- E becomes T
- M becomes W
Words in this ladder
- SITS verb
- be seated
- SETS noun
- a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- SEES noun
- the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
- SEEM verb
- give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
- STEM noun
- (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
- STEW noun
- agitation resulting from active worry
Puzzle 4: DAGO to CAPE
Show the solution
- D becomes S
- O becomes E
- S becomes C
- G becomes P
Words in this ladder
- DAGO noun
- (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Italian descent
- SAGO noun
- powdery starch from certain sago palms; used in Asia as a food thickener and textile stiffener
- SAGE noun
- a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
- CAGE noun
- an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
- CAPE noun
- a strip of land projecting into a body of water
Puzzle 5: READER to SPINNEY
Show the solution
- A becomes N
- R becomes T
- E becomes I
- D becomes N
- T becomes S
- add P
- R becomes Y
Words in this ladder
- READER noun
- a person who enjoys reading
- RENDER noun
- a substance similar to stucco but exclusively applied to masonry walls
- TENDER noun
- something that can be used as an official medium of payment
- TINDER noun
- material for starting a fire
- TINNER noun
- someone who makes or repairs tinware
- SINNER noun
- a person who sins (without repenting)
- SPINNER noun
- someone who spins (who twists fibers into threads)
- SPINNEY noun
- a copse that shelters game
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