Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for June 21, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, June 21, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was BUSS to GASES, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was CANES to PLEASED, 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: BUSS to GASES

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. add E
  3. U becomes A
  4. B becomes G

Words in this ladder

BUSS noun
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
BUSES noun
a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport
BASES noun
installation from which a military force initiates operations
GASES noun
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container

Puzzle 2: RACK to AMUCK

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

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

Words in this ladder

RACK noun
framework for holding objects
RUCK noun
a crowd especially of ordinary or undistinguished persons or things
MUCK noun
any thick, viscous matter
AMUCK adjective
frenzied as if possessed by a demon

Puzzle 3: CANES to PLEASED

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. N becomes S
  3. add E
  4. C becomes L
  5. add P
  6. S becomes D

Words in this ladder

CANES noun
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
CASES noun
an occurrence of something
CEASES noun
(`cease' is a noun only in the phrase `without cease') end
LEASES noun
property that is leased or rented out or let
PLEASES noun
a humble request for help from someone in authority
PLEASED verb
give pleasure to or be pleasing to

Puzzle 4: BONEY to ABATES

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

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

Words in this ladder

BONEY adjective
having bones especially many or prominent bones
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
BANES noun
something causing misery or death
BATES verb
moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
ABATES verb
make less active or intense

Puzzle 5: TIMES to ROWANS

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. I becomes O
  3. T becomes R
  4. E becomes A
  5. add N
  6. M becomes W

Words in this ladder

TIMES noun
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
TOMES noun
a (usually) large and scholarly book
ROMES noun
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
ROMAS noun
a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America)
ROMANS noun
a New Testament book containing an exposition of the doctrines of Saint Paul; written in AD 58
ROWANS noun
Eurasian tree with orange-red berrylike fruits

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