Word ladder answers for August 3, 2026

The daily ladder for Monday, August 3, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was BALD to LAUD, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was SHOOT to SPINS, 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: BALD to LAUD

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps · Solved by 3 players · 100% found a shortest path · 2.0 steps on average

Show the solution
  1. L becomes U
  2. B becomes L

Words in this ladder

BALD verb
grow bald; lose hair on one's head
BAUD noun
(computer science) a data transmission rate (bits/second) for modems
LAUD verb
praise, glorify, or honor

Puzzle 2: HART to GAWK

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. T becomes K
  2. R becomes W
  3. H becomes G

Words in this ladder

HART noun
United States playwright who collaborated with George S. Kaufman (1904-1961)
HARK verb
listen; used mostly in the imperative
HAWK noun
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
GAWK noun
an awkward stupid person

Puzzle 3: SHOOT to SPINS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. T becomes S
  2. O becomes E
  3. O becomes I
  4. H becomes P
  5. E becomes N

Words in this ladder

SHOOT noun
a new branch
SHOOS verb
drive away by crying `shoo!'
SHOES noun
a particular situation
SHIES noun
a quick throw
SPIES noun
(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
SPINS noun
a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)

Puzzle 4: TRAM to BECKS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. R becomes E
  2. M becomes S
  3. add K
  4. T becomes B
  5. A becomes C

Words in this ladder

TRAM noun
a conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers
TEAM noun
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
TEAS noun
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
TEAKS noun
hard strong durable yellowish-brown wood of teak trees; resistant to insects and to warping; used for furniture and in shipbuilding
BEAKS noun
beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
BECKS noun
a beckoning gesture

Puzzle 5: SIMAS to UPUPAS

Hard Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. S becomes P
  2. I becomes U
  3. M becomes P
  4. add U

Words in this ladder

SIMAS noun
rock that form the continuous lower layer of the earth's crust; rich in silicon and magnesium
PIMAS noun
a member of the North American Indian people living in southern Arizona and northern Mexico
PUMAS noun
large American feline resembling a lion
PUPAS noun
an insect in the inactive stage of development (when it is not feeding) intermediate between larva and adult
UPUPAS noun
type genus of the Upupidae

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