Word ladder answers for August 9, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, August 9, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was TOGS to MORE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was FUSED to EMETICS, 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: TOGS to MORE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

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

Words in this ladder

TOGS noun
informal terms for clothing
TORS noun
a prominent rock or pile of rocks on a hill
TORE noun
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
MORE noun
English statesman who opposed Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and was imprisoned and beheaded; recalled for his concept of Utopia, the ideal state

Puzzle 2: CLAYS to SWAGS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  1. C becomes S
  2. L becomes W
  3. Y becomes G

Words in this ladder

CLAYS noun
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
SLAYS verb
kill intentionally and with premeditation
SWAYS noun
controlling influence
SWAGS noun
valuable goods

Puzzle 3: MUTED to HIKERS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. D becomes S
  2. U becomes I
  3. T becomes K
  4. M becomes H
  5. add R

Words in this ladder

MUTED verb
deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
MUTES noun
a deaf person who is unable to speak
MITES noun
a slight but appreciable amount
MIKES noun
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
HIKES noun
a long walk usually for exercise or pleasure
HIKERS noun
a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk (for pleasure)

Puzzle 4: OATH to RUST

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. O becomes B
  2. T becomes S
  3. A becomes U
  4. H becomes T
  5. B becomes R

Words in this ladder

OATH noun
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
BATH noun
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
BASH noun
a vigorous blow
BUSH noun
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
BUST noun
a complete failure
RUST noun
a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture

Puzzle 5: FUSED to EMETICS

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  1. D becomes S
  2. F becomes M
  3. S becomes T
  4. U becomes E
  5. E becomes I
  6. add C
  7. add E

Words in this ladder

FUSED verb
mix together different elements
FUSES noun
an electrical device that can interrupt the flow of electrical current when it is overloaded
MUSES noun
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
MUTES noun
a deaf person who is unable to speak
METES noun
a line that indicates a boundary
METIS noun
a person in western Canada who is of Caucasian and American Indian ancestry
METICS noun
an alien who paid a fee to reside in an ancient Greek city
EMETICS noun
a medicine that induces nausea and vomiting

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