Word ladder answers for October 6, 2026
The daily ladder for Tuesday, October 6, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was WIRE to AWARD, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was ORE to BREWS, 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: WIRE to AWARD
Show the solution
- I becomes A
- add A
- E becomes D
Words in this ladder
- WIRE noun
- ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
- WARE noun
- articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: `silverware', `software'
- AWARE adjective
- (sometimes followed by `of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
- AWARD noun
- a grant made by a law court
Puzzle 2: MUSH to BUYS
Show the solution
- M becomes B
- H becomes S
- S becomes Y
Words in this ladder
- MUSH noun
- any soft or soggy mass
- BUSH noun
- a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
- BUSS noun
- the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
- BUYS noun
- an advantageous purchase
Puzzle 3: TOWERS to GIVENS
Show the solution
- T becomes L
- W becomes V
- O becomes I
- L becomes G
- R becomes N
Words in this ladder
- TOWERS noun
- a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
- LOWERS noun
- the lower of two berths
- LOVERS noun
- a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
- LIVERS noun
- large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes
- GIVERS noun
- someone who devotes himself completely
- GIVENS noun
- an assumption that is taken for granted
Puzzle 4: DIETS to DOCKS
Show the solution
- I becomes U
- E becomes C
- T becomes K
- U becomes O
Words in this ladder
- DIETS noun
- a prescribed selection of foods
- DUETS noun
- two items of the same kind
- DUCTS noun
- a bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance
- DUCKS noun
- small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
- DOCKS noun
- an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
Puzzle 5: ORE to BREWS
Show the solution
- R becomes W
- E becomes L
- add B
- L becomes S
- add R
- O becomes E
Words in this ladder
- ORE noun
- a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
- OWE verb
- be obliged to pay or repay
- OWL noun
- nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
- BOWL noun
- a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
- BOWS noun
- a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
- BROWS noun
- the part of the face above the eyes
- BREWS noun
- drink made by steeping and boiling and fermenting rather than distilling
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