Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for May 7, 2026

The daily ladder for Thursday, May 7, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was TOE to YORE, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was TARPS to MARLITES, which needs at least 6.

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: COKES to RIPES

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. K becomes P
  3. C becomes R
  4. O becomes I

Words in this ladder

COKES noun
carbon fuel produced by distillation of coal
COPES noun
brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall
ROPES noun
a strong line
RIPES verb
tear or be torn violently

Puzzle 2: TOE to YORE

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. add R
  3. T becomes Y

Words in this ladder

TOE noun
one of the digits of the foot
TORE noun
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
YORE noun
time long past

Puzzle 3: LUTE to PLOPS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. U becomes I
  3. E becomes S
  4. I becomes O
  5. add P
  6. T becomes P

Words in this ladder

LUTE noun
a substance for packing a joint or coating a porous surface to make it impervious to gas or liquid
LITE adjective
having relatively few calories
LITS noun
the humanistic study of a body of literature
LOTS noun
a large number or amount
PLOTS noun
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
PLOPS noun
the noise of a rounded object dropping into a liquid without a splash

Puzzle 4: WETS to RASP

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. W becomes R
  3. E becomes A
  4. T becomes M
  5. S becomes P
  6. M becomes S

Words in this ladder

WETS noun
wetness caused by water
RETS verb
place (flax, hemp, or jute) in liquid so as to promote loosening of the fibers from the woody tissue
RATS noun
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
RAMS noun
the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
RAMP noun
an inclined surface connecting two levels
RASP noun
uttering in an irritated tone

Puzzle 5: TARPS to MARLITES

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  2. P becomes E
  3. T becomes M
  4. add I
  5. add N
  6. add L
  7. N becomes T

Words in this ladder

TARPS noun
waterproofed canvas
TARES noun
an adjustment made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of the goods
MARES noun
female equine animal
MARIES noun
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
MARINES noun
members of a body of troops trained to serve on land or at sea
MARLINES noun
a small usually tarred line of 2 strands
MARLITES noun
metamorphic rock with approximately the same composition as marl

Today's puzzles are waiting

A new set of word ladders is released every day, free to play.

Play today's ladder