Word ladder answers for September 25, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, September 25, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was PAY to PEAL, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was FULL to HYPE, which needs at least 6. Players found PAY to PEAL the trickiest: they averaged 3.2 steps against a shortest path of 2.
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: PAY to PEAL
Show the solution
- Y becomes L
- add E
Words in this ladder
- PAY noun
- something that remunerates
- PAL noun
- a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- PEAL noun
- a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
Puzzle 2: FEE to DOPE
Show the solution
- E becomes O
- F becomes D
- add P
Words in this ladder
- FEE noun
- a fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services
- FOE noun
- an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
- DOE noun
- the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the United States; created in 1977
- DOPE noun
- street names for marijuana
Puzzle 3: SLUM to SHAKY
Show the solution
- U becomes A
- M becomes Y
- L becomes H
- add K
Words in this ladder
- SLUM noun
- a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions
- SLAM noun
- winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
- SLAY verb
- kill intentionally and with premeditation
- SHAY noun
- a carriage consisting of two wheels and a calash top; drawn by a single horse
- SHAKY adjective
- inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
Puzzle 4: POSSES to CORONETS
Show the solution
- add T
- P becomes C
- S becomes R
- S becomes N
- add O
Words in this ladder
- POSSES noun
- a temporary police force
- POSSETS noun
- sweet spiced hot milk curdled with ale or beer
- COSSETS verb
- treat with excessive indulgence
- CORSETS noun
- a woman's close-fitting foundation garment
- CORNETS noun
- a brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves
- CORONETS noun
- a small crown; usually indicates a high rank but below that of sovereign
Puzzle 5: FULL to HYPE
Show the solution
- U becomes A
- F becomes T
- L becomes E
- L becomes P
- A becomes Y
- T becomes H
Words in this ladder
- FULL noun
- the time when the Moon is fully illuminated
- FALL noun
- the season when the leaves fall from the trees
- TALL noun
- a garment size for a tall person
- TALE noun
- a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
- TAPE noun
- a long thin piece of cloth or paper as used for binding or fastening
- TYPE noun
- a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
- HYPE noun
- blatant or sensational promotion
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