Word ladder answers for September 23, 2026
The daily ladder for Wednesday, September 23, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was PAD to BAIT, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was OWLS to HATS, which needs at least 5. On PAD to BAIT, players averaged 4.3 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: PAD to BAIT
Show the solution
- P becomes B
- D becomes T
- add I
Words in this ladder
- PAD noun
- a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
- BAD noun
- that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency
- BAT noun
- nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
- BAIT noun
- anything that serves as an enticement
Puzzle 2: BALD to MADE
Show the solution
- D becomes E
- B becomes M
- L becomes D
Words in this ladder
- BALD verb
- grow bald; lose hair on one's head
- BALE noun
- a large bundle bound for storage or transport
- MALE noun
- an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
- MADE verb
- engage in
Puzzle 3: OWLS to HATS
Show the solution
- W becomes I
- O becomes N
- L becomes T
- N becomes H
- I becomes A
Words in this ladder
- OWLS noun
- nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
- OILS noun
- a slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water
- NILS noun
- a quantity of no importance
- NITS noun
- a luminance unit equal to 1 candle per square meter measured perpendicular to the rays from the source
- HITS noun
- (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)
- HATS noun
- headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
Puzzle 4: SUN to KEA
Show the solution
- U becomes E
- N becomes A
- S becomes K
Words in this ladder
- SUN noun
- the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
- SEN noun
- a fractional monetary unit of Japan and Indonesia and Cambodia; equal to one hundredth of a yen or rupiah or riel
- SEA noun
- a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
- KEA noun
- large brownish-green New Zealand parrot
Puzzle 5: PALING to BEACHING
Show the solution
- P becomes B
- L becomes K
- add C
- K becomes H
- add E
Words in this ladder
- PALING noun
- a fence made of upright pickets
- BALING verb
- make into a bale
- BAKING noun
- making bread or cake or pastry etc.
- BACKING noun
- the act of providing approval and support
- BACHING verb
- lead a bachelor's existence
- BEACHING verb
- land on a beach
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