Rung #7: RAGE to HEAR — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 21, 2026: RAGE to HEAR, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from RAGE to HEAR. 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. Without the leap the shortest climb is 6 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 18 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. RAGE → RAVE — the third letter, G becomes V.
2. RAVE → HAVE — the first letter, R becomes H.
3. HAVE → HAAR — the leap: V becomes A and E becomes R, two letters in one move for two rungs.
4. HAAR → HEAR — the second letter, A becomes E.

Other routes as short: RAGE · MAGE · MAAR · HAAR · HEAR; RAGE · RADE · HADE · HAAR · HEAR; RAGE · RADE · REDE · REAR · HEAR; and more.

The answer

RAGE · RAVE · HAVE · HAAR · HEAR — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #6 (Thu, Aug 20) · Next: Rung #8 (Sat, Aug 22)

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.