Rung #2: DIET to WOOD — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 16, 2026: DIET to WOOD, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from DIET to WOOD. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs, so it cannot be beaten. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 57 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. DIET → DIED — the fourth letter, T becomes D.
2. DIED → HIED — the first letter, D becomes H.
3. HIED → HOED — the second letter, I becomes O.
4. HOED → HOOD — the third letter, E becomes O.
5. HOOD → WOOD — the first letter, H becomes W.

Other routes as short: DIET · DIEL · DIOL · DOOL · WOOL · WOOD; DIET · DIES · DOES · DOOS · WOOS · WOOD; DIET · DIES · DOES · WOES · WOOS · WOOD; and more.

The answer

DIET · DIED · HIED · HOED · HOOD · WOOD — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #1 (Sat, Aug 15) · Next: Rung #3 (Mon, Aug 17)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day. How to play Rung, or play today’s.