Word ladder answers for July 19, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, July 19, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was ROTE to CHORE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was REDS to BABU, 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: ROTE to CHORE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

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

Words in this ladder

ROTE noun
memorization by repetition
COTE noun
a small shelter for domestic animals (as sheep or pigeons)
CORE noun
a small group of indispensable persons or things
CHORE noun
a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee

Puzzle 2: MUCK to DARK

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. C becomes R
  2. U becomes A
  3. M becomes D

Words in this ladder

MUCK noun
any thick, viscous matter
MURK noun
an atmosphere in which visibility is reduced because of a cloud of some substance
MARK noun
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
DARK noun
absence of light or illumination

Puzzle 3: TAKAS to TATERS

Medium Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. A becomes E
  2. add R
  3. K becomes T

Words in this ladder

TAKAS noun
the basic unit of money in Bangladesh; equal to 100 paisa
TAKES noun
the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
TAKERS noun
one who accepts an offer
TATERS noun
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland

Puzzle 4: BRAN to BOLL

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  1. N becomes T
  2. R becomes O
  3. A becomes L
  4. T becomes L

Words in this ladder

BRAN noun
broken husks of the seeds of cereal grains that are separated from the flour by sifting
BRAT noun
a very troublesome child
BOAT noun
a small vessel for travel on water
BOLT noun
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
BOLL noun
the rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant

Puzzle 5: REDS to BABU

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. R becomes B
  2. E becomes A
  3. S becomes E
  4. D becomes B
  5. E becomes U

Words in this ladder

REDS noun
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
BEDS noun
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
BADS noun
that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency
BADE noun
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
BABE noun
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
BABU noun
used as a Hindi courtesy title; equivalent to English `Mr'

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