Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for August 16, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, August 16, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was WARE to RACE, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was MAS to HASTENS, which needs at least 5.

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: WARE to RACE

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. W becomes R
  3. R becomes C

Words in this ladder

WARE noun
articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: `silverware', `software'
RARE adjective
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
RACE noun
any competition

Puzzle 2: DUN to HOE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. N becomes E
  3. D becomes H
  4. U becomes O

Words in this ladder

DUN noun
horse of a dull brownish grey color
DUE noun
that which is deserved or owed
HUE noun
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
HOE noun
a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle

Puzzle 3: ROPE to DOPES

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 1 player

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  2. R becomes H
  3. E becomes S
  4. add E
  5. H becomes D

Words in this ladder

ROPE noun
a strong line
HOPE noun
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
HOPS noun
twining perennials having cordate leaves and flowers arranged in conelike spikes; the dried flowers of this plant are used in brewing to add the characteristic bitter taste to beer
HOPES noun
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
DOPES noun
street names for marijuana

Puzzle 4: MAS to HASTENS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. add T
  3. M becomes H
  4. add E
  5. add S
  6. add N

Words in this ladder

MAS noun
informal terms for a mother
MATS noun
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
HATS noun
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
HATES noun
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
HASTES noun
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
HASTENS verb
act or move at high speed

Puzzle 5: FEY to FORGER

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. Y becomes S
  3. add O
  4. add R
  5. add G
  6. S becomes R

Words in this ladder

FEY adjective
slightly insane
FES noun
a city in north central Morocco; religious center
FOES noun
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
FORES noun
front part of a vessel or aircraft
FORGES noun
furnace consisting of a special hearth where metal is heated before shaping
FORGER noun
someone who operates a forge

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