Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for May 13, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, May 13, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was JARS to CLANS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was HUNG to ABATTIS, 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: JARS to CLANS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. J becomes C
  3. R becomes N
  4. add L

Words in this ladder

JARS noun
a vessel (usually cylindrical) with a wide mouth and without handles
CARS noun
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
CANS noun
airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
CLANS noun
group of people related by blood or marriage

Puzzle 2: BIDE to PALE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. D becomes L
  3. B becomes P
  4. I becomes A

Words in this ladder

BIDE verb
dwell
BILE noun
a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; aids in the digestion of fats
PILE noun
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
PALE noun
a wooden strip forming part of a fence

Puzzle 3: CARDS to LOCKS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. C becomes L
  3. D becomes K
  4. R becomes C
  5. A becomes O

Words in this ladder

CARDS noun
a game played with playing cards
LARDS noun
soft white semisolid fat obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of the hog
LARKS noun
North American songbirds having a yellow breast
LACKS noun
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
LOCKS noun
a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed

Puzzle 4: NIBS to LIMEY

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. B becomes P
  3. N becomes L
  4. P becomes E
  5. add M
  6. S becomes Y

Words in this ladder

NIBS noun
the writing point of a pen
NIPS noun
a small drink of liquor
LIPS noun
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
LIES noun
a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
LIMES noun
a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
LIMEY noun
a man of English descent

Puzzle 5: HUNG to ABATTIS

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  2. U becomes A
  3. H becomes B
  4. G becomes S
  5. N becomes T
  6. add I
  7. add A
  8. add T

Words in this ladder

HUNG verb
be suspended or hanging
HANG noun
a special way of doing something
BANG noun
a vigorous blow
BANS noun
a decree that prohibits something
BATS noun
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
BATIS noun
small genus of plants constituting the family Batidaceae: low straggling dioecious shrubs
ABATIS noun
a line of defense consisting of a barrier of felled or live trees with branches (sharpened or with barbed wire entwined) pointed toward the enemy
ABATTIS noun
a line of defense consisting of a barrier of felled or live trees with branches (sharpened or with barbed wire entwined) pointed toward the enemy

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