Word ladder answers for May 10, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, May 10, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was PINT to KIDS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was HUBS to CRATE, which needs at least 5.

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: PINT to KIDS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. T becomes S
  2. P becomes K
  3. N becomes D

Words in this ladder

PINT noun
a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 gills or 568.26 cubic centimeters
PINS noun
a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
KINS noun
a person having kinship with another or others
KIDS noun
a young person of either sex

Puzzle 2: KOLA to CULT

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. K becomes C
  2. A becomes T
  3. O becomes U

Words in this ladder

KOLA noun
tree bearing large brown nuts containing e.g. caffeine; source of cola extract
COLA noun
large genus of African trees bearing kola nuts
COLT noun
a young male horse under the age of four
CULT noun
followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices

Puzzle 3: HUBS to CRATE

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. B becomes T
  2. U becomes A
  3. S becomes E
  4. H becomes R
  5. add C

Words in this ladder

HUBS noun
the central part of a car wheel (or fan or propeller etc) through which the shaft or axle passes
HUTS noun
temporary military shelter
HATS noun
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
HATE noun
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
RATE noun
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
CRATE noun
a rugged box (usually made of wood); used for shipping

Puzzle 4: TIED to GLAD

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. I becomes O
  2. E becomes A
  3. T becomes G
  4. O becomes L

Words in this ladder

TIED verb
fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord
TOED verb
walk so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction
TOAD noun
any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
GOAD noun
a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion
GLAD noun
any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus native chiefly to tropical and South Africa having sword-shaped leaves and one-sided spikes of brightly colored funnel-shaped flowers; widely cultivated

Puzzle 5: COTES to POTHERS

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. C becomes T
  2. add R
  3. add T
  4. T becomes P
  5. T becomes H

Words in this ladder

COTES noun
a small shelter for domestic animals (as sheep or pigeons)
TOTES noun
a capacious bag or basket
TOTERS noun
someone whose employment involves carrying something
TOTTERS verb
move without being stable, as if threatening to fall
POTTERS noun
a craftsman who shapes pottery on a potter's wheel and bakes them it a kiln
POTHERS noun
an excited state of agitation

Today's puzzles are waiting

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

Play today's ladder