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 → SALT — the leap: P becomes A and O becomes L, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. SALT → SALE — the fourth letter, T becomes E.
3. SALE → SADE — the third letter, L 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 · SAFT · SAFE · SADE · LADE · LADY; SPOT · SALT · SALS · SADS · LADS · LADY; SPOT · SPIT · WAIT · WADT · WADY · LADY; and more.

The answer

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

Previous: Rung #7 (Fri, Aug 21) · Next: Rung #9 (Sun, Aug 23)

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.