Word ladder answers for October 9, 2026
The daily ladder for Friday, October 9, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was JOT to LOFT, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was HACK to AFIELD, which needs at least 7. Players found JOT to LOFT the trickiest: they averaged 2.9 steps against a shortest path of 2.
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: JOT to LOFT
Show the solution
- J becomes L
- add F
Words in this ladder
- JOT noun
- a brief (and hurriedly handwritten) note
- LOT noun
- (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- LOFT noun
- floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space
Puzzle 2: END to LAND
Show the solution
- add L
- E becomes A
Words in this ladder
- END noun
- either extremity of something that has length
- LEND verb
- bestow a quality on
- LAND noun
- the land on which real estate is located
Puzzle 3: UREA to ASHES
Show the solution
- U becomes A
- A becomes S
- add C
- R becomes H
- C becomes S
Words in this ladder
- UREA noun
- the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide and used as fertilizer and in animal feed and in plastics
- AREA noun
- a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
- ARES noun
- (Greek mythology) Greek god of war; son of Zeus and Hera; identified with Roman Mars
- ACRES noun
- extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
- ACHES noun
- a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
- ASHES noun
- the residue that remains when something is burned
Puzzle 4: OVERS to BLOWERS
Show the solution
- add L
- V becomes W
- add B
Words in this ladder
- OVERS noun
- (cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch
- LOVERS noun
- a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
- LOWERS noun
- the lower of two berths
- BLOWERS noun
- a device that produces a current of air
Puzzle 5: HACK to AFIELD
Show the solution
- C becomes N
- K becomes D
- A becomes I
- H becomes F
- add E
- N becomes L
- add A
Words in this ladder
- HACK noun
- one who works hard at boring tasks
- HANK noun
- a coil of rope or wool or yarn
- HAND noun
- the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
- HIND noun
- any of several mostly spotted fishes that resemble groupers
- FIND noun
- a productive insight
- FIEND noun
- a cruel wicked and inhuman person
- FIELD noun
- a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
- AFIELD adverb
- far away from home or one's usual surroundings; - R.A.Hall
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