Word ladder answers for July 2, 2026
The daily ladder for Thursday, July 2, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was CONE to ROTS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was VAS to AHURA, 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: CONE to ROTS
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- E becomes S
- N becomes T
- C becomes R
Words in this ladder
- CONE noun
- any cone-shaped artifact
- CONS noun
- an argument opposed to a proposal
- COTS noun
- a sheath worn to protect a finger
- ROTS noun
- a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
Puzzle 2: BULL to VALE
Show the solution
- U becomes A
- L becomes E
- B becomes V
Words in this ladder
- BULL noun
- uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle
- BALL noun
- round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
- BALE noun
- a large bundle bound for storage or transport
- VALE noun
- a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
Puzzle 3: SAYS to ZEALS
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- S becomes P
- Y becomes L
- add E
- P becomes Z
Words in this ladder
- SAYS noun
- the chance to speak
- PAYS noun
- something that remunerates
- PALS noun
- a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- PEALS noun
- a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
- ZEALS noun
- a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
Puzzle 4: ZAPS to TONERS
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- Z becomes T
- P becomes N
- A becomes O
- add E
- add R
Words in this ladder
- ZAPS noun
- a sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact
- TAPS noun
- (military) signal to turn the lights out
- TANS noun
- a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
- TONS noun
- a large number or amount
- TONES noun
- the quality of a person's voice
- TONERS noun
- a solution containing chemicals that can change the color of a photographic print
Puzzle 5: VAS to AHURA
Show the solution
- add R
- V becomes B
- A becomes U
- S becomes A
- B becomes A
- add H
Words in this ladder
- VAS noun
- a tube in which a body fluid circulates
- VARS noun
- a unit of electrical power in an AC circuit equal to the power dissipated when 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere
- BARS noun
- gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
- BURS noun
- seed vessel having hooks or prickles
- BURA noun
- a Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad
- AURA noun
- a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure
- AHURA noun
- (Zoroastrianism) title for benevolent deities
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