Word ladder answers for September 17, 2026
The daily ladder for Thursday, September 17, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was MATES to RITES, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was COAT to ERGS, which needs at least 5. On NABS to DRAYS, players averaged 5.0 steps against a shortest path of 3.
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: NABS to DRAYS
Show the solution
- B becomes Y
- N becomes R
- add D
Words in this ladder
- NABS verb
- tag the base runner to get him out
- NAYS noun
- a negative
- RAYS noun
- a column of light (as from a beacon)
- DRAYS noun
- a low heavy horse cart without sides; used for haulage
Puzzle 2: MATES to RITES
Show the solution
- M becomes R
- A becomes I
Words in this ladder
- MATES noun
- a pair of people who live together
- RATES noun
- a local tax on property (usually used in the plural)
- RITES noun
- an established ceremony prescribed by a religion
Puzzle 3: COAT to ERGS
Show the solution
- C becomes B
- O becomes R
- T becomes S
- B becomes E
- A becomes G
Words in this ladder
- COAT noun
- an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
- BOAT noun
- a small vessel for travel on water
- BRAT noun
- a very troublesome child
- BRAS noun
- an undergarment worn by women to support their breasts
- ERAS noun
- a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- ERGS noun
- a cgs unit of work or energy; the work done by a force of one dyne acting over a distance of one centimeter
Puzzle 4: JEER to BALL
Show the solution
- J becomes B
- R becomes T
- E becomes L
- T becomes L
- E becomes A
Words in this ladder
- JEER noun
- showing your contempt by derision
- BEER noun
- a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops
- BEET noun
- biennial Eurasian plant usually having a swollen edible root; widely cultivated as a food crop
- BELT noun
- endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
- BELL noun
- a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
- BALL noun
- round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
Puzzle 5: DRAW to DINE
Show the solution
- W becomes M
- R becomes I
- M becomes S
- A becomes N
- S becomes E
Words in this ladder
- DRAW noun
- a gully that is shallower than a ravine
- DRAM noun
- a unit of apothecary weight equal to an eighth of an ounce or to 60 grains
- DIAM noun
- the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
- DIAS noun
- Portuguese explorer who in 1488 was the first European to get round the Cape of Good Hope (thus establishing a sea route from the Atlantic to Asia) (1450-1500)
- DINS noun
- a loud harsh or strident noise
- DINE verb
- have supper; eat dinner
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