Word ladder answers for September 1, 2026

The daily ladder for Tuesday, September 1, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was LUCK to PUNK, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was EPOS to CARRIER, 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: LUCK to PUNK

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  1. L becomes P
  2. C becomes N

Words in this ladder

LUCK noun
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
PUCK noun
a mischievous sprite of English folklore
PUNK noun
an aggressive and violent young criminal

Puzzle 2: FITS to BAGS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  1. F becomes B
  2. I becomes A
  3. T becomes G

Words in this ladder

FITS noun
a display of bad temper
BITS noun
a small piece or quantity of something
BATS noun
nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
BAGS noun
a flexible container with a single opening

Puzzle 3: DRUBS to GROPES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  1. U becomes I
  2. B becomes P
  3. D becomes G
  4. add E
  5. I becomes O

Words in this ladder

DRUBS verb
beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
DRIBS noun
a small indefinite quantity (especially of a liquid); ; ; ; --Kipling
DRIPS noun
flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid
GRIPS noun
the act of grasping
GRIPES noun
acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)
GROPES noun
the act of groping; and instance of groping

Puzzle 4: BAN to ELATE

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

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

Words in this ladder

BAN noun
a decree that prohibits something
BARN noun
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
BARE verb
lay bare
BATE verb
moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
LATE adjective
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
ELATE verb
fill with high spirits; fill with optimism

Puzzle 5: EPOS to CARRIER

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  1. P becomes R
  2. O becomes I
  3. add E
  4. E becomes C
  5. add A
  6. add R
  7. S becomes R

Words in this ladder

EPOS noun
a body of poetry that conveys the traditions of a society by treating some epic theme
EROS noun
(Greek mythology) god of love; son of Aphrodite; identified with Roman Cupid
ERIS noun
(Greek mythology) goddess of discord; sister of Ares
ERIES noun
a member of an Iroquoian people formerly living on the south shore of Lake Erie in northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania and western New York
CRIES noun
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
CARIES noun
soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth
CARRIES noun
the act of carrying something
CARRIER noun
someone whose employment involves carrying something

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