Rung #3: JUST to NONE — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 17, 2026: JUST to NONE, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from JUST to NONE. 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 87 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. JUST → DUST — the first letter, J becomes D.
2. DUST → DOST — the second letter, U becomes O.
3. DOST → DOSE — the fourth letter, T becomes E.
4. DOSE → NOSE — the first letter, D becomes N.
5. NOSE → NONE — the third letter, S becomes N.

Other routes as short: JUST · DUST · DOSE · NOSE · NONE; JUST · DUST · DOST · DOSE · DONE · NONE; JUST · DUST · DUNT · DUNE · DONE · NONE; and more.

The answer

JUST · DUST · DOST · DOSE · NOSE · NONE — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #2 (Sun, Aug 16) · Next: Rung #4 (Tue, Aug 18)

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.