Word ladder answers for May 9, 2026
The daily ladder for Saturday, May 9, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was RAGS to PRATS, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was JAT to GULPS, 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: RAGS to PRATS
Show the solution
- G becomes T
- add P
Words in this ladder
- RAGS noun
- a small piece of cloth or paper
- RATS noun
- any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
- PRATS noun
- the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
Puzzle 2: BOLL to TOIL
Show the solution
- B becomes T
- L becomes I
Words in this ladder
- BOLL noun
- the rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant
- TOLL noun
- a fee levied for the use of roads or bridges (used for maintenance)
- TOIL noun
- productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
Puzzle 3: JOGS to PINKS
Show the solution
- O becomes I
- J becomes P
- G becomes N
- add K
Words in this ladder
- JOGS noun
- a sharp change in direction
- JIGS noun
- music in three-four time for dancing a jig
- PIGS noun
- domestic swine
- PINS noun
- a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
- PINKS noun
- a light shade of red
Puzzle 4: RIPS to BARNS
Show the solution
- I becomes A
- R becomes B
- P becomes N
- add R
Words in this ladder
- RIPS noun
- a dissolute man in fashionable society
- RAPS noun
- a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
- BAPS noun
- a small loaf or roll of soft bread
- BANS noun
- a decree that prohibits something
- BARNS noun
- an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
Puzzle 5: JAT to GULPS
Show the solution
- J becomes P
- T becomes S
- add P
- A becomes U
- add L
- P becomes G
Words in this ladder
- JAT noun
- a member of an Indo-European people widely scattered throughout the northwest of the Indian subcontinent and consisting of Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs
- PAT noun
- the sound made by a gentle blow
- PAS noun
- (ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
- PAPS noun
- worthless or oversimplified ideas
- PUPS noun
- young of any of various canines such as a dog or wolf
- PULPS noun
- any soft or soggy mass
- GULPS noun
- a large and hurried swallow
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