Word ladder answers for June 23, 2026

The daily ladder for Tuesday, June 23, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was LAKE to MATH, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was BEEP to CURLER, 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: LAKE to MATH

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps ยท Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. K becomes T
  2. L becomes M
  3. E becomes H

Words in this ladder

LAKE noun
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
LATE adjective
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
MATE noun
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
MATH noun
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement

Puzzle 2: ROES to NOSEY

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. add S
  2. R becomes N
  3. S becomes Y

Words in this ladder

ROES noun
fish eggs or egg-filled ovary; having a grainy texture
ROSES noun
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
NOSES noun
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
NOSEY adjective
offensively curious or inquisitive

Puzzle 3: TAMERS to DIVERS

Medium Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. A becomes I
  2. T becomes D
  3. M becomes V

Words in this ladder

TAMERS noun
an animal trainer who tames wild animals
TIMERS noun
a timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end
DIMERS noun
a compound whose molecules are composed of two identical monomers
DIVERS noun
someone who works underwater

Puzzle 4: CUBES to WARPS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. B becomes R
  2. U becomes A
  3. E becomes P
  4. C becomes W

Words in this ladder

CUBES noun
a hexahedron with six equal squares as faces
CURES noun
a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
CARES noun
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
CARPS noun
the lean flesh of a fish that is often farmed; can be baked or braised
WARPS noun
a twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting

Puzzle 5: BEEP to CURLER

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  1. B becomes S
  2. P becomes D
  3. E becomes U
  4. S becomes C
  5. add R
  6. add L
  7. D becomes R

Words in this ladder

BEEP noun
a short high tone produced as a signal or warning
SEEP verb
pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
SEED noun
a small hard fruit
SUED verb
institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
CUED verb
assist (somebody acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned
CURED verb
provide a cure for, make healthy again
CURLED verb
form a curl, curve, or kink
CURLER noun
a mechanical device consisting of a cylindrical tube around which the hair is wound to curl it

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