Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for May 11, 2026

The daily ladder for Monday, May 11, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was DOUR to SPUR, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was LYES to WASTES, 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: BOY to BRAS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. O becomes A
  3. add R
  4. Y becomes S

Words in this ladder

BOY noun
a youthful male person
BAY noun
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
BRAY noun
the cry of an ass
BRAS noun
an undergarment worn by women to support their breasts

Puzzle 2: DOUR to SPUR

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. D becomes S
  3. O becomes P

Words in this ladder

DOUR adjective
stubbornly unyielding; ; ; ; - T.S.Eliot
SOUR noun
a cocktail made of a liquor (especially whiskey or gin) mixed with lemon or lime juice and sugar
SPUR noun
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

Puzzle 3: LYES to WASTES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. L becomes B
  3. add T
  4. Y becomes A
  5. add S
  6. B becomes W

Words in this ladder

LYES noun
a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
BYES noun
you advance to the next round in a tournament without playing an opponent
BYTES noun
a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information
BATES verb
moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
BASTES noun
a loose temporary sewing stitch to hold layers of fabric together
WASTES noun
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

Puzzle 4: TOT to SWART

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. add R
  3. O becomes A
  4. add S
  5. T becomes W

Words in this ladder

TOT noun
a small amount (especially of a drink)
TORT noun
(law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought
TART noun
a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
START noun
the beginning of anything
SWART adjective
naturally having skin of a dark color

Puzzle 5: LIEN to LOTIC

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

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

Words in this ladder

LIEN noun
the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
LIES noun
a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
LITS noun
the humanistic study of a body of literature
LOTS noun
a large number or amount
LOTIS noun
the basic unit of money in Lesotho
LOTIC adjective
of or relating to or living in actively moving water

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