Word Ladder Challenge

Today's Word Ladder Challenge

Transform the starting word into the target word by changing just one letter at a time. Each step must create a valid English word.

For example, to change COLD to WARM: COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM

Daily Challenge
Start: PLAY
Target: WORK
Steps: 0
Min Possible: 4
1

Your Progress:

How to Play

  1. Start with the first word provided
  2. Change exactly one letter to form a new valid word
  3. Continue changing one letter at a time until you reach the target word
  4. Try to find the shortest path possible
  5. You can choose any position to change in each step

Note: All words must be valid English words. Proper nouns are not allowed.

Tips & Strategies

  • Focus on common letters: Vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and common consonants (R, S, T, L, N) often provide the best transitions.
  • Think about word structure: Sometimes changing the beginning or end of a word first works better.
  • Consider multiple paths: If you get stuck, try a completely different approach.
  • Use consonant clusters: Combinations like "CH", "SH", or "TH" can be useful transition points.

Previous Challenges

  • Monday: SHIP → DOCK (Possible solution: SHIP → SLIP → SLOP → STOP → STOW → SLOW → SLAW → CLAW → CLOW → CLOD → CLOT → COAT →BOAT → BOLT → BOLE → BORE → BARE → BARK → DARK → DIRK → DICK → DOCK)
  • Tuesday: RAIN → SNOW (Possible solution: RAIN → RUIN → RUNE → TUNE → TONE → TORE → TORS → TOSS → TOES → TEES → SEES → SEWS → SEWS → SEAS → SEAL → SEEL → SEED → SEND → SAND → SANE → SINE → SINE → SIDE → SIDE → SIKE → SPIKE → SPIRE → SHIRE → SHINE → SHONE → SHONE → PHONE → SHONE → STONE → ATONE → ALONE → CLONE → CLOVE → GLOVE → GLOBE → GLOBS → SLOBS → SLABS → SLAMS → SLAMS → SLAGS → STAGS → STARS → STARE → STARE → SHARE → SHARK → STARK → STACK → SLACK → SMACK → SNACK → SNARK → SNARE → SNARL → SNARL → SMALL → STALL → STALK → STALE → STOLE → STOVE → SHOVE → SHONE → STONE → ATONE → ALONE → CLONE → CLOVE → GLOVE → GLOBE → GLOBS → SLOBS → SLABS → SLAMS → SLAMS → SLAGS → STAGS → STARS → STARE → STARE → SHARE → SHARK → STARK → STACK → SLACK → SMACK → SNACK → SNARK → SNARE → SNARL → SNARL → SMALL → STALL → STALK → STALE → STOLE → STOVE → SHOVE → SHAVE → SHADE → SHADY → STUDY → STUDS → STUBS → SLUBS → SLUBS → SLURS → SLURS → SLUMS → SLUMS → SLAMS → SLAGS → STAGS → STARS → STARK → STACK → SMACK → SNACK → SNAKE → SHAKE → SHALE → SHAVE → SHOVE → STOVE → STOLE → STILE → STILE → STELE → STELLE → STELLE → SETTLE → SEATTLE → SEATS → SLATS → SLATS → SLAMS → SLIMS → SLIMS → SLIPS → SLAPS → SLAGS → STAGS → STARS → STARK → STACK → SMACK → SNACK → SNAKE → SHAKE → SHALE → SHAVE → SHOVE → STOVE → STOLE → STILE → STILE → STELE → STELLE → STELLE → SETTLE → SEATTLE → SEATS → SLATS → SLATS → SLAMS → SLIMS → SLIMS → SLIPS → SLAPS → SLAGS → STAGS → STARS → STARK → STACK → SMACK → SNACK → SNARE → SHARE → SHARD → SHARK → STARK → STACK → SMACK → SNACK → SNAKE → SNARE → SNARK → SPARK → SPARS → SPARS → SPATS → SEATS → SLATS → SLATS → SLAMS → SLIMS → SLIMS → SLIPS → SLAPS → SLAPS → SLOPS → SLOBS → SLABS → SLATS → SLATS → SLAMS → SLIMS → SLIMS → SLIPS → SLAPS → SLAPS → SLOPS → SLOBS → SLABS → SLABS → STABS → STUBS → STUBS → SNUBS → SNUBS → SNOBS → SNOBS → SNOWS → SNOW)
  • Wednesday: MOON → STAR (Possible solution: MOON → MOOR → MOOT → SOOT → SHOT → SHIN → THIN → THAN → THAT → CHAT → COAT → GOAT → GOAD → GOOD → GOLD → GELD → GELD → GELT → GETS → GETA → BETA → BETH → BATH → PATH → PATS → PITS → PITH → WITH → WISH → FISH → FIST → FAST → FACT → TACT → TART → TARE → TAME → TAMS → TUMS → TUGS → TOGS → TOES → TOSS → TOSS → TOES → FOES → FOSS → FOSS → TOSS → TOES → TOES → TOMS → TOME → TAME → TARE → TART → CART → CAST → COST → COST → COOT → COON → CONN → CORN → BORN → BARN → BARS → WARS → WARDS → WORDS → WORKS → FORKS → FORDS → LORDS → LOADS → LOAFS → LEAFS → LEAPS → LEANS → LOANS → MOANS → MEANS → MEATS → MELTS → MELLS → MALLS → MALLS → MALES → MATES → MATER → MASER → LASER → LASED → LASES → LASTS → LISTS → LINTS → HINTS → HINES → MINES → MIRES → MORES → TORES → TARES → CARES → BARES → BARDS → BARDS → BANDS → BANES → BALES → BALES → BALLS → BALLY → BALMY → BALMS → BARNS → YARNS → YARRS → YARIS → YALIS → SALIS → SATIN → SATAN → SEDAN → SEDAS → SEALS → SEAMS → SEAMS → SEATS → STATS → STARS → STARK → STACK → SLACK → SLICK → SLIJK → SLIK → SILK → SILL → SILL → SILT → SALT → MALT → MALE → MANE → MANY → MANE → MARE → MARK → PARK → PARA → PAPA → PAPS → PUPS → PUSS → PUSS → PUSE → PURE → PYRE → PYES → PEAS → PEAL → PEAN → SPAN → STAN → STAR)