Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for September 26, 2026

The daily ladder for Saturday, September 26, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was HAIL to BALL, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was TOWER to HUNKS, which needs at least 5.

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: RAZES to DARNS

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

Show the solution
  2. R becomes D
  3. Z becomes R
  4. E becomes N

Words in this ladder

RAZES verb
tear down so as to make flat with the ground
DAZES noun
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
DARES noun
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
DARNS noun
something of little value

Puzzle 2: HAIL to BALL

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. I becomes L
  3. H becomes B

Words in this ladder

HAIL noun
precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
HALL noun
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
BALL noun
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

Puzzle 3: TOWER to HUNKS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. W becomes N
  3. R becomes S
  4. T becomes H
  5. E becomes K
  6. O becomes U

Words in this ladder

TOWER noun
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
TONER noun
a solution containing chemicals that can change the color of a photographic print
TONES noun
the quality of a person's voice
HONES noun
a whetstone made of fine gritstone; used for sharpening razors
HONKS noun
the cry of a goose (or any sound resembling this)
HUNKS noun
a well-built sexually attractive man

Puzzle 4: CAMP to HERD

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. M becomes R
  3. P becomes D
  4. C becomes H
  5. A becomes E

Words in this ladder

CAMP noun
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
CARP noun
the lean flesh of a fish that is often farmed; can be baked or braised
CARD noun
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
HARD adjective
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
HERD noun
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

Puzzle 5: GAIA to ERNE

Hard Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. A becomes N
  3. A becomes R
  4. G becomes E
  5. N becomes E
  6. I becomes N

Words in this ladder

GAIA noun
(Greek mythology) goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology
GAIN noun
a quantity that is added
GRIN noun
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
ERIN noun
an early name of Ireland that is now used in poetry
ERIE noun
a member of an Iroquoian people formerly living on the south shore of Lake Erie in northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania and western New York
ERNE noun
bulky greyish-brown eagle with a short wedge-shaped white tail; of Europe and Greenland

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