Word ladder answers for October 28, 2026
The daily ladder for Wednesday, October 28, 2026 had 5 puzzles. The quickest was DOSE to HORSE, solvable in 2 steps, and the longest was GALA to CATTLE, 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: DOSE to HORSE
Show the solution
- D becomes H
- add R
Words in this ladder
- DOSE noun
- a measured portion of medicine taken at any one time
- HOSE noun
- socks and stockings and tights collectively (the British include underwear)
- HORSE noun
- solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
Puzzle 2: CHOP to COOL
Show the solution
- H becomes O
- P becomes L
Words in this ladder
- CHOP noun
- the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide)
- COOP noun
- a farm building for housing poultry
- COOL noun
- the quality of being at a refreshingly low temperature
Puzzle 3: HYPE to COIN
Show the solution
- Y becomes O
- H becomes C
- P becomes R
- E becomes N
- R becomes I
Words in this ladder
- HYPE noun
- blatant or sensational promotion
- HOPE noun
- a specific instance of feeling hopeful
- COPE noun
- brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall
- CORE noun
- a small group of indispensable persons or things
- CORN noun
- tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
- COIN noun
- a flat metal piece (usually a disc) used as money
Puzzle 4: RANTING to BLOCKING
Show the solution
- T becomes K
- R becomes B
- N becomes C
- add L
- A becomes O
Words in this ladder
- RANTING noun
- a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
- RANKING noun
- position on a scale in relation to others in a sport
- BANKING noun
- engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
- BACKING noun
- the act of providing approval and support
- BLACKING noun
- a substance used to produce a shiny protective surface on footwear
- BLOCKING noun
- the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements
Puzzle 5: GALA to CATTLE
Show the solution
- A becomes E
- L becomes T
- G becomes H
- add S
- H becomes C
- add L
- S becomes T
Words in this ladder
- GALA noun
- a gay festivity
- GALE noun
- a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
- GATE noun
- a movable barrier in a fence or wall
- HATE noun
- the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
- HASTE noun
- overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
- CASTE noun
- social status or position conferred by a system based on class
- CASTLE noun
- a large and stately mansion
- CATTLE noun
- domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age; ; ; - Bible
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