Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for May 15, 2026

The daily ladder for Friday, May 15, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was NIB to FIX, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was GIBES to SLAKED, 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: NIB to FIX

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. N becomes F
  3. B becomes X

Words in this ladder

NIB noun
the writing point of a pen
FIB noun
a trivial lie
FIX noun
informal terms for a difficult situation

Puzzle 2: MERE to MATTE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. E becomes A
  3. R becomes T
  4. add T

Words in this ladder

MERE noun
a small pond of standing water
MARE noun
female equine animal
MATE noun
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
MATTE noun
a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted

Puzzle 3: WITS to ELUTE

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. W becomes L
  3. S becomes E
  4. add E
  5. I becomes U

Words in this ladder

WITS noun
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
LITS noun
the humanistic study of a body of literature
LITE adjective
having relatively few calories
ELITE noun
a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
ELUTE verb
wash out with a solvent, as in chromatography

Puzzle 4: PLACES to CREPES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. C becomes T
  3. L becomes R
  4. P becomes C
  5. T becomes P
  6. A becomes E

Words in this ladder

PLACES noun
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
PLATES noun
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
PRATES noun
idle or foolish and irrelevant talk
CRATES noun
a rugged box (usually made of wood); used for shipping
CRAPES noun
small very thin pancake
CREPES noun
paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations

Puzzle 5: GIBES to SLAKED

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  2. B becomes V
  3. G becomes L
  4. V becomes K
  5. I becomes A
  6. add S
  7. S becomes D

Words in this ladder

GIBES noun
an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
GIVES noun
the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
LIVES noun
a characteristic state or mode of living
LIKES noun
a similar kind; ,
LAKES noun
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
SLAKES verb
satisfy (thirst)
SLAKED verb
satisfy (thirst)

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