Word ladder answers for June 19, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, June 19, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was PAY to SCAR, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was GRACE to CLONE, which needs at least 5.
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: PAY to SCAR
Show the solution
- Y becomes R
- P becomes C
- add S
Words in this ladder
- PAY noun
- something that remunerates
- PAR noun
- (golf) the standard number of strokes set for each hole on a golf course, or for the entire course
- CAR noun
- a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- SCAR noun
- a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
Puzzle 2: MAYS to MAKE
Show the solution
- Y becomes N
- S becomes E
- N becomes K
Words in this ladder
- MAYS noun
- United States baseball player (born in 1931)
- MANS noun
- an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
- MANE noun
- long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck
- MAKE noun
- a recognizable kind
Puzzle 3: GRACE to CLONE
Show the solution
- C becomes V
- A becomes O
- R becomes L
- G becomes C
- V becomes N
Words in this ladder
- GRACE noun
- (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
- GRAVE noun
- death of a person
- GROVE noun
- a small growth of trees without underbrush
- GLOVE noun
- the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
- CLOVE noun
- aromatic flower bud of a clove tree; yields a spice
- CLONE noun
- a person who is almost identical to another
Puzzle 4: COOS to HOUSE
Show the solution
- O becomes P
- C becomes H
- S becomes E
- P becomes S
- add U
Words in this ladder
- COOS noun
- the sound made by a pigeon
- COPS noun
- uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
- HOPS noun
- twining perennials having cordate leaves and flowers arranged in conelike spikes; the dried flowers of this plant are used in brewing to add the characteristic bitter taste to beer
- HOPE noun
- a specific instance of feeling hopeful
- HOSE noun
- socks and stockings and tights collectively (the British include underwear)
- HOUSE noun
- a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
Puzzle 5: CANID to LAUNCES
Show the solution
- I becomes E
- D becomes S
- C becomes L
- add C
- add U
Words in this ladder
- CANID noun
- any of various fissiped mammals with nonretractile claws and typically long muzzles
- CANED verb
- beat with a cane
- CANES noun
- a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
- LANES noun
- a narrow way or road
- LANCES noun
- a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
- LAUNCES noun
- very small silvery eellike schooling fishes that burrow into sandy beaches
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