Word ladder answers for October 4, 2026
The daily ladder for Sunday, October 4, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was FLOW to SPEW, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was DEN to BOUNCE, which needs at least 6.
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: FLOW to SPEW
Show the solution
- F becomes S
- O becomes E
- L becomes P
Words in this ladder
- FLOW noun
- the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
- SLOW verb
- lose velocity; move more slowly
- SLEW noun
- (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- SPEW verb
- expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth
Puzzle 2: RODS to JABS
Show the solution
- D becomes B
- R becomes J
- O becomes A
Words in this ladder
- RODS noun
- a long thin implement made of metal or wood
- ROBS verb
- take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
- JOBS noun
- the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
- JABS noun
- a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
Puzzle 3: COOP to BOOSTS
Show the solution
- P becomes S
- C becomes B
- add T
- add S
Words in this ladder
- COOP noun
- a farm building for housing poultry
- COOS noun
- the sound made by a pigeon
- BOOS noun
- a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
- BOOTS noun
- footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
- BOOSTS noun
- the act of giving hope or support to someone
Puzzle 4: LAW to AMPS
Show the solution
- W becomes S
- add A
- A becomes P
- L becomes M
Words in this ladder
- LAW noun
- the collection of rules imposed by authority
- LAS noun
- a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
- ALAS noun
- a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
- ALPS noun
- a large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction
- AMPS noun
- the basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
Puzzle 5: DEN to BOUNCE
Show the solution
- E becomes U
- N becomes E
- add N
- add C
- D becomes O
- add B
Words in this ladder
- DEN noun
- the habitation of wild animals
- DUN noun
- horse of a dull brownish grey color
- DUE noun
- that which is deserved or owed
- DUNE noun
- a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
- DUNCE noun
- a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence
- OUNCE noun
- a unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a pound
- BOUNCE noun
- the quality of a substance that is able to rebound
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