Word ladder answers for October 13, 2026
The daily ladder for Tuesday, October 13, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was NAPS to EATS, solvable in 3 steps, and the longest was SHANKS to CREEPS, 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: NAPS to EATS
Show the solution
- N becomes C
- P becomes T
- C becomes E
Words in this ladder
- NAPS noun
- a period of time spent sleeping
- CAPS noun
- a tight-fitting headdress
- CATS noun
- feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
- EATS noun
- informal terms for a meal
Puzzle 2: COLT to SOLID
Show the solution
- T becomes D
- C becomes S
- add I
Words in this ladder
- COLT noun
- a young male horse under the age of four
- COLD noun
- a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs)
- SOLD verb
- exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
- SOLID noun
- matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure
Puzzle 3: QUITS to FLATS
Show the solution
- Q becomes S
- U becomes L
- I becomes A
- S becomes F
Words in this ladder
- QUITS verb
- put an end to a state or an activity
- SUITS noun
- a set of garments (usually including a jacket and trousers or skirt) for outerwear all of the same fabric and color
- SLITS noun
- a long narrow opening
- SLATS noun
- a thin strip (wood or metal)
- FLATS noun
- footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
Puzzle 4: FOND to BLING
Show the solution
- O becomes I
- F becomes B
- add L
- D becomes G
Words in this ladder
- FOND adjective
- having or displaying warmth or affection
- FIND noun
- a productive insight
- BIND noun
- something that hinders as if with bonds
- BLIND noun
- people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
- BLING noun
- flashy, ostentatious jewelry
Puzzle 5: SHANKS to CREEPS
Show the solution
- N becomes C
- A becomes U
- S becomes C
- U becomes E
- C becomes E
- H becomes R
- K becomes P
Words in this ladder
- SHANKS noun
- a cut of meat (beef or veal or mutton or lamb) from the upper part of the leg
- SHACKS noun
- small crude shelter used as a dwelling
- SHUCKS noun
- something of little value
- CHUCKS noun
- informal terms for a meal
- CHECKS noun
- a written order directing a bank to pay money
- CHEEKS noun
- either side of the face below the eyes
- CREEKS noun
- a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
- CREEPS noun
- a disease of cattle and sheep attributed to a dietary deficiency; characterized by anemia and softening of the bones and a slow stiff gait
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