Word ladder answers for August 17, 2026
The daily ladder for Monday, August 17, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was DORMS to YORES, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was BEGS to MEDAL, 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: DORMS to YORES
Show the solution
- D becomes F
- M becomes E
- F becomes Y
Words in this ladder
- DORMS noun
- a college or university building containing living quarters for students
- FORMS noun
- the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
- FORES noun
- front part of a vessel or aircraft
- YORES noun
- time long past
Puzzle 2: BIT to OAR
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- I becomes A
- B becomes O
- T becomes R
Words in this ladder
- BIT noun
- a small piece or quantity of something
- BAT noun
- nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
- OAT noun
- annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: `oats')
- OAR noun
- an implement used to propel or steer a boat
Puzzle 3: BEGS to MEDAL
Show the solution
- B becomes P
- G becomes A
- S becomes L
- P becomes M
- add D
Words in this ladder
- BEGS verb
- call upon in supplication; entreat
- PEGS noun
- a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
- PEAS noun
- seed of a pea plant used for food
- PEAL noun
- a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
- MEAL noun
- the food served and eaten at one time
- MEDAL noun
- an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event
Puzzle 4: GRIP to CHOP
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- G becomes D
- I becomes O
- D becomes C
- R becomes H
Words in this ladder
- GRIP noun
- the act of grasping
- DRIP noun
- flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid
- DROP noun
- a shape that is spherical and small
- CROP noun
- the yield from plants in a single growing season
- CHOP noun
- the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide)
Puzzle 5: SALE to DARED
Show the solution
- S becomes D
- L becomes R
- E becomes D
- add E
Words in this ladder
- SALE noun
- a particular instance of selling
- DALE noun
- an open river valley (in a hilly area)
- DARE noun
- a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
- DARD noun
- any of a group of Indic languages spoken in Kashmir and eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan
- DARED verb
- take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
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