Word ladder answers for July 1, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, July 1, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was FARE to CASTE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was OUTS to VERSES, 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: FARE to CASTE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  1. F becomes C
  2. R becomes S
  3. add T

Words in this ladder

FARE noun
an agenda of things to do
CARE noun
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
CASE noun
an occurrence of something
CASTE noun
social status or position conferred by a system based on class

Puzzle 2: PEAS to FLATS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. add T
  2. P becomes F
  3. E becomes L

Words in this ladder

PEAS noun
seed of a pea plant used for food
PEATS noun
partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
FEATS noun
a notable achievement
FLATS noun
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)

Puzzle 3: HANKY to BEASTS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. Y becomes S
  2. H becomes B
  3. N becomes S
  4. K becomes T
  5. add E

Words in this ladder

HANKY noun
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
HANKS noun
United States film actor (born in 1956)
BANKS noun
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
BASKS verb
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
BASTS noun
strong woody fibers obtained especially from the phloem of from various plants
BEASTS noun
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

Puzzle 4: LIMES to STRAKES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. M becomes K
  2. I becomes A
  3. L becomes T
  4. add S
  5. add R

Words in this ladder

LIMES noun
a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
LIKES noun
a similar kind; ,
LAKES noun
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
TAKES noun
the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
STAKES noun
the money risked on a gamble
STRAKES noun
thick plank forming a ridge along the side of a wooden ship

Puzzle 5: OUTS to VERSES

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  1. O becomes P
  2. U becomes E
  3. P becomes V
  4. add S
  5. add R
  6. T becomes E

Words in this ladder

OUTS noun
(baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball
PUTS noun
the option to sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date
PETS noun
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
VETS noun
a doctor who practices veterinary medicine
VESTS noun
a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat
VERSTS noun
a Russian unit of length (1.067 km)
VERSES noun
literature in metrical form

Today's puzzles are waiting

A new set of word ladders is released every day, free to play.

Play today's ladder