Rung #8: SPOT to LADY — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 22, 2026: SPOT to LADY, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from SPOT to LADY. 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: 6 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 30 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SPOT → SAFT — the leap: P becomes A and O becomes F, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. SAFT → SAFE — the fourth letter, T becomes E.
3. SAFE → SADE — the third letter, F becomes D.
4. SADE → LADE — the first letter, S becomes L.
5. LADE → LADY — the fourth letter, E becomes Y.

Other routes as short: SPOT · SOOT · LOOT · LOOS · LODS · LADS · LADY; SPOT · LOOT · LOOS · LODS · LADS · LADY; SPOT · SAFT · WAFT · WADT · WADY · LADY; and more.

The answer

SPOT · SAFT · SAFE · SADE · LADE · LADY — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

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About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters that day, five now, 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.