Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for June 13, 2026

The daily ladder for Saturday, June 13, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was CORE to ROUTE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was HALO to CARET, which needs at least 4.

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: CORE to ROUTE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

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

Words in this ladder

CORE noun
a small group of indispensable persons or things
COTE noun
a small shelter for domestic animals (as sheep or pigeons)
ROTE noun
memorization by repetition
ROUTE noun
an established line of travel or access

Puzzle 2: LOOS to ROCKS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. add K
  3. O becomes C
  4. L becomes R

Words in this ladder

LOOS noun
Austrian architect (1870-1933)
LOOKS noun
the feelings expressed on a person's face
LOCKS noun
a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
ROCKS noun
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

Puzzle 3: TAT to LAYS

Medium Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. T becomes L
  3. T becomes S
  4. add Y

Words in this ladder

TAT noun
tastelessness by virtue of being cheap and vulgar
LAT noun
a broad flat muscle on either side of the back
LAS noun
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
LAYS noun
a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

Puzzle 4: HALO to CARET

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. O becomes T
  3. L becomes R
  4. H becomes C
  5. add E

Words in this ladder

HALO noun
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
HALT noun
the state of inactivity following an interruption
HART noun
United States playwright who collaborated with George S. Kaufman (1904-1961)
CART noun
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
CARET noun
a mark used by an author or editor to indicate where something is to be inserted into a text

Puzzle 5: YEA to ZENO

Hard Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. A becomes S
  3. add N
  4. Y becomes Z
  5. S becomes O

Words in this ladder

YEA noun
an affirmative
YES noun
an affirmative
YENS noun
a yearning for something or to do something
ZENS noun
school of Mahayana Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith; China and Japan
ZENO noun
ancient Greek philosopher who formulated paradoxes that defended the belief that motion and change are illusory (circa 495-430 BC)

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