Word ladder answers for August 11, 2026

The daily ladder for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was TORE to TARES, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was TATTER to GELDED, which needs at least 6.

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: TORE to TARES

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

Show the solution
  1. O becomes A
  2. E becomes S
  3. add E

Words in this ladder

TORE noun
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
TARE noun
an adjustment made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of the goods
TARS noun
any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
TARES noun
an adjustment made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of the goods

Puzzle 2: LOSTS to PANTS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. L becomes P
  2. O becomes A
  3. S becomes N

Words in this ladder

LOSTS noun
people who are destined to die soon
POSTS noun
the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
PASTS noun
the time that has elapsed
PANTS noun
underpants worn by women

Puzzle 3: WARNS to PASTELS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. N becomes T
  2. W becomes P
  3. R becomes S
  4. add E
  5. add L

Words in this ladder

WARNS verb
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
WARTS noun
any small rounded protuberance (as on certain plants or animals)
PARTS noun
the local environment
PASTS noun
the time that has elapsed
PASTES noun
any mixture of a soft and malleable consistency
PASTELS noun
any of various pale or light colors

Puzzle 4: RAYS to MINES

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. R becomes M
  2. Y becomes N
  3. add E
  4. A becomes I

Words in this ladder

RAYS noun
a column of light (as from a beacon)
MAYS noun
United States baseball player (born in 1931)
MANS noun
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
MANES noun
a Persian prophet who founded Manichaeism (216-276)
MINES noun
excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted

Puzzle 5: TATTER to GELDED

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  1. T becomes M
  2. R becomes D
  3. T becomes L
  4. A becomes E
  5. T becomes D
  6. M becomes G

Words in this ladder

TATTER noun
a small piece of cloth or paper
MATTER noun
a vaguely specified concern
MATTED verb
twist together or entwine into a confusing mass
MALTED noun
a milkshake made with malt powder
MELTED verb
reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
MELDED verb
announce for a score; of cards in a card game
GELDED verb
cut off the testicles (of male animals such as horses)

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