Word ladder answers for June 18, 2026
The daily ladder for Thursday, June 18, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was FOILS to WAIFS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was CLANS to TANKING, 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: FOILS to WAIFS
Show the solution
- O becomes A
- F becomes W
- L becomes F
Words in this ladder
- FOILS noun
- a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal
- FAILS verb
- fail to do something; leave something undone
- WAILS noun
- a cry of sorrow and grief
- WAIFS noun
- a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
Puzzle 2: RATS to REARS
Show the solution
- R becomes E
- T becomes R
- add R
Words in this ladder
- RATS noun
- any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
- EATS noun
- informal terms for a meal
- EARS noun
- the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- REARS noun
- the back of a military formation or procession
Puzzle 3: LACS to SCARF
Show the solution
- C becomes B
- add S
- L becomes C
- B becomes R
- S becomes F
Words in this ladder
- LACS noun
- resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects; used in e.g. varnishes and sealing wax
- LABS noun
- a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
- SLABS noun
- block consisting of a thick piece of something
- SCABS noun
- someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
- SCARS noun
- a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
- SCARF noun
- a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
Puzzle 4: COWERS to SMOLDERS
Show the solution
- C becomes P
- add D
- W becomes L
- P becomes S
- add M
Words in this ladder
- COWERS verb
- crouch or curl up
- POWERS noun
- possession of controlling influence
- POWDERS noun
- a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
- POLDERS noun
- low-lying land that has been reclaimed and is protected by dikes (especially in the Netherlands)
- SOLDERS noun
- an alloy (usually of lead and tin) used when melted to join two metal surfaces
- SMOLDERS noun
- a fire that burns with thick smoke but no flame
Puzzle 5: CLANS to TANKING
Show the solution
- S becomes G
- A becomes I
- C becomes B
- add A
- L becomes K
- add N
- B becomes T
Words in this ladder
- CLANS noun
- group of people related by blood or marriage
- CLANG noun
- a loud resonant repeating noise
- CLING noun
- fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit
- BLING noun
- flashy, ostentatious jewelry
- BALING verb
- make into a bale
- BAKING noun
- making bread or cake or pastry etc.
- BANKING noun
- engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
- TANKING verb
- store in a tank by causing (something) to flow into it
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