Word Labyrinth

Word ladder answers for October 3, 2026

The daily ladder for Saturday, October 3, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was DESK to LUCK, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was PROP to BEASTS, which needs at least 7.

Solutions are folded away until you open them, so you can have a go first. We show one shortest path per puzzle. Plenty of ladders have two or three paths of the same length, so if yours doesn't match and has the same step count, it's just as good.

Puzzle 1: DESK to LUCK

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 6 players · 83% found a shortest path · 3.2 steps on average

Show the solution
  2. S becomes C
  3. E becomes U
  4. D becomes L

Words in this ladder

DESK noun
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
DECK noun
any of various platforms built into a vessel
DUCK noun
small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
LUCK noun
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

Puzzle 2: ARCS to FATES

Easy Shortest solution: 3 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. C becomes E
  3. add F
  4. R becomes T

Words in this ladder

ARCS noun
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
ARES noun
(Greek mythology) Greek god of war; son of Zeus and Hera; identified with Roman Mars
FARES noun
an agenda of things to do
FATES noun
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

Puzzle 3: RAMP to BEARD

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps · Solved by 1 player

Show the solution
  2. P becomes S
  3. add E
  4. R becomes B
  5. M becomes R
  6. S becomes D

Words in this ladder

RAMP noun
an inclined surface connecting two levels
RAMS noun
the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
REAMS noun
a large quantity of written matter
BEAMS noun
a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
BEARS noun
massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
BEARD noun
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

Puzzle 4: TEE to BLAND

Medium Shortest solution: 5 steps

Show the solution
  2. T becomes B
  3. E becomes D
  4. E becomes A
  5. add N
  6. add L

Words in this ladder

TEE noun
the starting place for each hole on a golf course
BEE noun
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
BED noun
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
BAD noun
that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency
BAND noun
an unofficial association of people or groups
BLAND adjective
lacking taste or flavor or tang

Puzzle 5: PROP to BEASTS

Hard Shortest solution: 7 steps

Show the solution
  2. O becomes E
  3. R becomes E
  4. P becomes B
  5. P becomes S
  6. E becomes T
  7. add A
  8. add S

Words in this ladder

PROP noun
a support placed beneath or against something to keep it from shaking or falling
PREP noun
preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home)
PEEP noun
the short weak cry of a young bird
BEEP noun
a short high tone produced as a signal or warning
BEES noun
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
BETS noun
the money risked on a gamble
BEATS noun
a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)
BEASTS noun
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

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