Word ladder answers for August 13, 2026

The daily ladder for Thursday, August 13, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was GRUBS to BRADS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was HOVE to SILVERS, 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: GRUBS to BRADS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  1. U becomes A
  2. B becomes D
  3. G becomes B

Words in this ladder

GRUBS noun
informal terms for a meal
GRABS noun
a mechanical device for gripping an object
GRADS noun
one-hundredth of a right angle
BRADS noun
a small nail

Puzzle 2: JAG to WOW

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. A becomes O
  2. J becomes W
  3. G becomes W

Words in this ladder

JAG noun
a sharp projection on an edge or surface
JOG noun
a sharp change in direction
WOG noun
(offensive British slang) term used by the British to refer to people of color from Africa or Asia
WOW noun
a joke that seems extremely funny

Puzzle 3: LAKES to CLASSES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. L becomes C
  2. K becomes S
  3. add U
  4. add L
  5. U becomes S

Words in this ladder

LAKES noun
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
CAKES noun
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
CASES noun
an occurrence of something
CAUSES noun
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
CLAUSES noun
(grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence
CLASSES noun
a collection of things sharing a common attribute

Puzzle 4: BERKS to TOPES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. B becomes P
  2. E becomes O
  3. K becomes E
  4. R becomes P
  5. P becomes T

Words in this ladder

BERKS noun
a stupid person who is easy to take advantage of
PERKS noun
an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)
PORKS noun
meat from a domestic hog or pig
PORES noun
any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)
POPES noun
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
TOPES noun
a dome-shaped shrine erected by Buddhists

Puzzle 5: HOVE to SILVERS

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  1. V becomes L
  2. H becomes S
  3. E becomes S
  4. add E
  5. add V
  6. add R
  7. O becomes I

Words in this ladder

HOVE verb
utter a sound, as with obvious effort
HOLE noun
an opening into or through something
SOLE noun
the underside of footwear or a golf club
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
SOLVES verb
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
SOLVERS noun
a thinker who focuses on the problem as stated and tries to synthesize information and knowledge to achieve a solution
SILVERS noun
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

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