Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for June 17, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, June 17, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was BONKS to PONES, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was HINGES to SNICKER, 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: LAKES to FACER

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. L becomes F
  3. K becomes C
  4. S becomes R

Words in this ladder

LAKES noun
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
FAKES noun
something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
FACES noun
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
FACER noun
(a dated Briticism) a serious difficulty with which one is suddenly faced

Puzzle 2: BONKS to PONES

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. K becomes E
  3. B becomes P

Words in this ladder

BONKS verb
have sexual intercourse with
BONES noun
a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
PONES noun
cornbread often made without milk or eggs and baked or fried (southern)

Puzzle 3: CAPES to YANKS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

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  2. P becomes N
  3. C becomes B
  4. E becomes K
  5. B becomes Y

Words in this ladder

CAPES noun
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
CANES noun
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
BANES noun
something causing misery or death
BANKS noun
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
YANKS noun
an American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War)

Puzzle 4: WEN to PALE

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. W becomes P
  3. E becomes I
  4. N becomes E
  5. add L
  6. I becomes A

Words in this ladder

WEN noun
a common cyst of the skin; filled with fatty matter (sebum) that is secreted by a sebaceous gland that has been blocked
PEN noun
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
PIN noun
a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
PIE noun
dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
PILE noun
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
PALE noun
a wooden strip forming part of a fence

Puzzle 5: HINGES to SNICKER

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  2. H becomes S
  3. S becomes R
  4. add T
  5. G becomes K
  6. N becomes C
  7. T becomes N

Words in this ladder

HINGES noun
a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
SINGES noun
a surface burn
SINGER noun
a person who sings
STINGER noun
a cocktail made of made of creme de menthe and brandy
STINKER noun
a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
STICKER noun
a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf
SNICKER noun
a disrespectful laugh

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