Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for September 8, 2026

The daily ladder for Tuesday, September 8, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was WOES to WOODS, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was TANG to RESECTS, 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: WOES to WOODS

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps

Show the solution
  2. E becomes O
  3. add D

Words in this ladder

WOES noun
misery resulting from affliction
WOOS verb
seek someone's favor
WOODS noun
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

Puzzle 2: ILKS to BIDES

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps

Show the solution
  2. add B
  3. K becomes E
  4. L becomes D

Words in this ladder

ILKS noun
a kind of person
BILKS verb
cheat somebody out of what is due, especially money
BILES noun
a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; aids in the digestion of fats
BIDES verb
dwell

Puzzle 3: MUTED to PYRES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. D becomes S
  3. U becomes A
  4. T becomes R
  5. M becomes P
  6. A becomes Y

Words in this ladder

MUTED verb
deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
MUTES noun
a deaf person who is unable to speak
MATES noun
a pair of people who live together
MARES noun
female equine animal
PARES verb
decrease gradually or bit by bit
PYRES noun
wood heaped for burning a dead body as a funeral rite

Puzzle 4: APES to LAMPS

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps

Show the solution
  2. add T
  3. P becomes M
  4. T becomes L
  5. E becomes P

Words in this ladder

APES noun
any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
TAPES noun
a long thin piece of cloth or paper as used for binding or fastening
TAMES verb
correct by punishment or discipline
LAMES noun
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
LAMPS noun
an artificial source of visible illumination

Puzzle 5: TANG to RESECTS

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  2. G becomes S
  3. A becomes E
  4. add T
  5. N becomes S
  6. T becomes R
  7. add E
  8. add C

Words in this ladder

TANG noun
a tart spicy quality
TANS noun
a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
TENS noun
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
TENTS noun
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
TESTS noun
trying something to find out about it
RESTS noun
something left after other parts have been taken away
RESETS noun
device for resetting instruments or controls
RESECTS verb
surgically remove a part of a structure or an organ

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