Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for May 26, 2026

The daily ladder for Tuesday, May 26, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was RIPS to WHITS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was BOTH to DOSSIERS, 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: RIPS to WHITS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. R becomes H
  3. P becomes T
  4. add W

Words in this ladder

RIPS noun
a dissolute man in fashionable society
HIPS noun
either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
HITS noun
(baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)
WHITS noun
a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

Puzzle 2: LAD to CURD

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. add R
  3. L becomes C
  4. A becomes U

Words in this ladder

LAD noun
a boy or man
LARD noun
soft white semisolid fat obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of the hog
CARD noun
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
CURD noun
a coagulated liquid resembling milk curd

Puzzle 3: RETS to WHAMS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. E becomes A
  3. R becomes H
  4. T becomes M
  5. add W

Words in this ladder

RETS verb
place (flax, hemp, or jute) in liquid so as to promote loosening of the fibers from the woody tissue
RATS noun
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
HATS noun
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
HAMS noun
meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)
WHAMS verb
hit hard

Puzzle 4: TOILS to HAFTS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. O becomes A
  3. T becomes H
  4. I becomes L
  5. L becomes T
  6. L becomes F

Words in this ladder

TOILS noun
productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
TAILS noun
formalwear consisting of full evening dress for men
HAILS noun
precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
HALLS noun
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
HALTS noun
the state of inactivity following an interruption
HAFTS noun
the handle of a weapon or tool

Puzzle 5: BOTH to DOSSIERS

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  2. H becomes S
  3. B becomes D
  4. T becomes S
  5. add E
  6. add S
  7. add R
  8. add I

Words in this ladder

BOTH adjective
(used with count nouns) two considered together; the two
BOTS noun
botfly larva; typically develops inside the body of a horse or sheep or human
DOTS noun
a very small circular shape
DOSS noun
the federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies
DOSES noun
a measured portion of medicine taken at any one time
DOSSES noun
the federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies
DOSSERS noun
someone who sleeps in any convenient place
DOSSIERS noun
a collection of papers containing detailed information about a particular person or subject (usually a person's record)

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