Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for September 16, 2026

The daily ladder for Wednesday, September 16, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was DOLL to PALE, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was SICKS to FRANCK, which needs at least 6.

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: DOLL to PALE

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 7 players · 100% found a shortest path · 3.0 steps on average

Show the solution
  2. D becomes P
  3. L becomes E
  4. O becomes A

Words in this ladder

DOLL noun
a small replica of a person; used as a toy
POLL noun
an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
POLE noun
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
PALE noun
a wooden strip forming part of a fence

Puzzle 2: PERKY to PEEPS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 3 players · 67% found a shortest path · 3.3 steps on average

Show the solution
  2. Y becomes S
  3. R becomes E
  4. K becomes P

Words in this ladder

PERKY adjective
characterized by liveliness and lightheartedness
PERKS noun
an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)
PEEKS noun
a secret look
PEEPS noun
the short weak cry of a young bird

Puzzle 3: PING to BOXES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. G becomes S
  3. add E
  4. I becomes O
  5. P becomes B
  6. N becomes X

Words in this ladder

PING noun
a river in western Thailand; a major tributary of the Chao Phraya
PINS noun
a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
PINES noun
a coniferous tree
PONES noun
cornbread often made without milk or eggs and baked or fried (southern)
BONES noun
a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
BOXES noun
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

Puzzle 4: TINY to MAKES

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. Y becomes S
  3. I becomes A
  4. T becomes M
  5. add E
  6. N becomes K

Words in this ladder

TINY adjective
very small
TINS noun
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
TANS noun
a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
MANS noun
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
MANES noun
a Persian prophet who founded Manichaeism (216-276)
MAKES noun
a recognizable kind

Puzzle 5: SICKS to FRANCK

Hard Shortest solution: 6 steps

Show the solution
  2. I becomes A
  3. S becomes R
  4. C becomes N
  5. add F
  6. K becomes C
  7. S becomes K

Words in this ladder

SICKS noun
people who are sick
SACKS noun
a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
RACKS noun
framework for holding objects
RANKS noun
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
FRANKS noun
a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
FRANCS noun
the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 centimes
FRANCK noun
French composer and teacher who influenced a generation of composers (1822-1890)

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