Word ladder answers for August 12, 2026
The daily ladder for Wednesday, August 12, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was PATS to OPALS, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was NAME to SPLITS, 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: PATS to OPALS
Show the solution
- T becomes L
- add O
Words in this ladder
- PATS noun
- the sound made by a gentle blow
- PALS noun
- a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- OPALS noun
- a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
Puzzle 2: OAR to PAP
Show the solution
- O becomes P
- R becomes P
Words in this ladder
- OAR noun
- an implement used to propel or steer a boat
- PAR noun
- (golf) the standard number of strokes set for each hole on a golf course, or for the entire course
- PAP noun
- worthless or oversimplified ideas
Puzzle 3: SWAGS to SKINS
Show the solution
- G becomes N
- W becomes P
- A becomes I
- P becomes K
Words in this ladder
- SWAGS noun
- valuable goods
- SWANS noun
- stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
- SPANS noun
- the complete duration of something
- SPINS noun
- a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
- SKINS noun
- a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
Puzzle 4: CHAD to GLEAN
Show the solution
- H becomes L
- D becomes N
- add E
- C becomes G
Words in this ladder
- CHAD noun
- a small piece of paper that is supposed to be removed when a hole is punched in a card or paper tape
- CLAD verb
- provide with clothes or put clothes on
- CLAN noun
- group of people related by blood or marriage
- CLEAN noun
- a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
- GLEAN verb
- gather, as of natural products
Puzzle 5: NAME to SPLITS
Show the solution
- N becomes L
- A becomes I
- add S
- E becomes S
- M becomes T
- add P
Words in this ladder
- NAME noun
- a language unit by which a person or thing is known
- LAME noun
- someone who doesn't understand what is going on
- LIME noun
- a caustic substance produced by heating limestone
- SLIME noun
- any thick, viscous matter
- SLIMS verb
- take off weight
- SLITS noun
- a long narrow opening
- SPLITS noun
- extending the legs at right angles to the trunk (one in front and the other in back)
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