Word ladder answers for September 27, 2026

The daily ladder for Sunday, September 27, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was BUSK to MUST, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was RAND to TRIMS, 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: BUSK to MUST

Easy Shortest solution: 2 steps · Solved by 5 players · 100% found a shortest path · 2.0 steps on average

Show the solution
  1. K becomes T
  2. B becomes M

Words in this ladder

BUSK verb
play music in a public place and solicit money for it
BUST noun
a complete failure
MUST noun
a necessary or essential thing

Puzzle 2: NABS to DRAYS

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 2 players

Show the solution
  1. B becomes Y
  2. N becomes R
  3. 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 3: RAND to TRIMS

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. add G
  2. D becomes S
  3. N becomes M
  4. G becomes T
  5. A becomes I

Words in this ladder

RAND noun
the basic unit of money in South Africa; equal to 100 cents
GRAND noun
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
GRANS noun
the mother of your father or mother
GRAMS noun
a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
TRAMS noun
a conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers
TRIMS noun
a state of arrangement or appearance

Puzzle 4: SEAL to BRAY

Medium Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. L becomes T
  2. S becomes B
  3. E becomes R
  4. T becomes Y

Words in this ladder

SEAL noun
fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
SEAT noun
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
BEAT noun
a regular route for a sentry or policeman
BRAT noun
a very troublesome child
BRAY noun
the cry of an ass

Puzzle 5: BONED to MOSSES

Hard Shortest solution: 4 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  1. D becomes S
  2. N becomes S
  3. add S
  4. B becomes M

Words in this ladder

BONED verb
study intensively, as before an exam
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
BOSES noun
Indian physicist who with Albert Einstein proposed statistical laws based on the indistinguishability of particles; led to the description of fundamental particles that later came to be known as bosons
BOSSES noun
a person who exercises control over workers
MOSSES noun
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

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