Word ladder answers for July 26, 2026
The daily ladder for Sunday, July 26, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was GYPS to LOPS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was LEONS to OATEN, 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: GYPS to LOPS
Show the solution
- Y becomes A
- G becomes L
- A becomes O
Words in this ladder
- GYPS noun
- a genus of Accipitridae
- GAPS noun
- a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
- LAPS noun
- the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
- LOPS verb
- cut off from a whole
Puzzle 2: TANGY to MADLY
Show the solution
- T becomes M
- G becomes L
- N becomes D
Words in this ladder
- TANGY adjective
- tasting sour like a lemon
- MANGY adjective
- having many worn or threadbare spots in the nap
- MANLY adjective
- possessing qualities befitting a man
- MADLY adverb
- in an uncontrolled manner
Puzzle 3: DUKE to HAGS
Show the solution
- K becomes D
- E becomes S
- D becomes G
- D becomes H
- U becomes A
Words in this ladder
- DUKE noun
- a British peer of the highest rank
- DUDE noun
- an informal form of address for a man
- DUDS noun
- informal terms for clothing
- DUGS noun
- an udder or breast or teat
- HUGS noun
- a tight or amorous embrace
- HAGS noun
- an ugly evil-looking old woman
Puzzle 4: MINS to SWINGER
Show the solution
- M becomes S
- add G
- add E
- S becomes R
- add W
Words in this ladder
- MINS noun
- a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
- SINS noun
- estrangement from god
- SINGS verb
- deliver by singing
- SINGES noun
- a surface burn
- SINGER noun
- a person who sings
- SWINGER noun
- someone who swings sports implements
Puzzle 5: LEONS to OATEN
Show the solution
- E becomes I
- O becomes M
- N becomes E
- I becomes A
- M becomes T
- L becomes O
- S becomes N
Words in this ladder
- LEONS noun
- a historical area and former kingdom in northwestern Spain
- LIONS noun
- large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
- LIMNS verb
- trace the shape of
- LIMES noun
- a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
- LAMES noun
- someone who doesn't understand what is going on
- LATES noun
- a genus of large percoid fishes of fresh and brackish water
- OATES noun
- English conspirator who claimed that there was a Jesuit plot to assassinate Charles II (1649-1705)
- OATEN adjective
- of or related to or derived from oats
Today's puzzles are waiting
A new set of word ladders is released every day, free to play.
Play today's ladder