Word ladder answers for May 14, 2026
The daily ladder for Thursday, May 14, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was FAX to DAD, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was WEEKS to WAGNERS, 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: FAX to DAD
Show the solution
- X becomes D
- F becomes D
Words in this ladder
- FAX noun
- duplicator that transmits the copy by wire or radio
- FAD noun
- an interest followed with exaggerated zeal
- DAD noun
- an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
Puzzle 2: CADS to PUPS
Show the solution
- D becomes P
- A becomes U
- C becomes P
Words in this ladder
- CADS noun
- someone who is morally reprehensible
- CAPS noun
- a tight-fitting headdress
- CUPS noun
- a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
- PUPS noun
- young of any of various canines such as a dog or wolf
Puzzle 3: BASK to PINGS
Show the solution
- S becomes N
- K becomes S
- B becomes P
- A becomes I
- add G
Words in this ladder
- BASK verb
- derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
- BANK noun
- sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
- BANS noun
- a decree that prohibits something
- PANS noun
- cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
- PINS noun
- a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
- PINGS noun
- a river in western Thailand; a major tributary of the Chao Phraya
Puzzle 4: DART to HORSE
Show the solution
- D becomes W
- A becomes O
- add S
- T becomes E
- W becomes H
Words in this ladder
- DART noun
- a small narrow pointed missile that is thrown or shot
- WART noun
- any small rounded protuberance (as on certain plants or animals)
- WORT noun
- usually used in combination: `liverwort'; `milkwort'; `whorlywort'
- WORST noun
- the least favorable outcome
- WORSE noun
- something inferior in quality or condition or effect
- HORSE noun
- solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
Puzzle 5: WEEKS to WAGNERS
Show the solution
- W becomes L
- K becomes R
- add G
- E becomes A
- L becomes W
- add N
Words in this ladder
- WEEKS noun
- any period of seven consecutive days
- LEEKS noun
- plant having a large slender white bulb and flat overlapping dark green leaves; used in cooking; believed derived from the wild Allium ampeloprasum
- LEERS noun
- a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
- LEGERS noun
- a record in which commercial accounts are recorded
- LAGERS noun
- a camp defended by a circular formation of wagons
- WAGERS noun
- the act of gambling
- WAGNERS noun
- Austrian architect and pioneer of modern architecture (1841-1918)
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