Word ladder answers for August 5, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, August 5, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was SPAS to TEAR, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was REALS to SERVO, 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: SPAS to TEAR

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  1. P becomes E
  2. S becomes T
  3. S becomes R

Words in this ladder

SPAS noun
a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
SEAS noun
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
TEAS noun
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
TEAR noun
a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands

Puzzle 2: MOLT to GULL

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. T becomes L
  2. O becomes U
  3. M becomes G

Words in this ladder

MOLT noun
periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
MOLL noun
the girlfriend of a gangster
MULL noun
a term used in Scottish names of promontories
GULL noun
a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of

Puzzle 3: SOYA to STYLES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

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  1. A becomes S
  2. Y becomes L
  3. add E
  4. add T
  5. O becomes Y

Words in this ladder

SOYA noun
erect bushy hairy annual herb having trifoliate leaves and purple to pink flowers; extensively cultivated for food and forage and soil improvement but especially for its nutritious oil-rich seeds; native to Asia
SOYS noun
a source of oil; used for forage and soil improvement and as food
SOLS noun
a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
SOLES noun
a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
STOLES noun
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
STYLES noun
how something is done or how it happens

Puzzle 4: MODE to PLAICE

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. O becomes A
  2. D becomes C
  3. M becomes P
  4. add L
  5. add I

Words in this ladder

MODE noun
how something is done or how it happens
MADE verb
engage in
MACE noun
(trademark) a liquid that temporarily disables a person; prepared as an aerosol and sprayed in the face, it irritates the eyes and causes dizziness and immobilization
PACE noun
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
PLACE noun
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
PLAICE noun
flesh of large European flatfish

Puzzle 5: REALS to SERVO

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  1. R becomes M
  2. A becomes R
  3. S becomes E
  4. L becomes G
  5. M becomes S
  6. G becomes V
  7. E becomes O

Words in this ladder

REALS noun
any rational or irrational number
MEALS noun
the food served and eaten at one time
MERLS noun
common black European thrush
MERLE noun
common black European thrush
MERGE verb
become one
SERGE noun
a twilled woolen fabric
SERVE noun
(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
SERVO noun
control system that converts a small mechanical motion into one requiring much greater power; may include a negative feedback system

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