Rung #9: NOON to FELT — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 23, 2026: NOON to FELT, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from NOON to FELT. 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 38 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. NOON → BOON — the first letter, N becomes B.
2. BOON → BOOT — the fourth letter, N becomes T.
3. BOOT → BOLT — the third letter, O becomes L.
4. BOLT → BELT — the second letter, O becomes E.
5. BELT → FELT — the first letter, B becomes F.

Other routes as short: NOON · MOON · MOOT · MOLT · MELT · FELT; NOON · TOON · TOOT · TOLT · TELT · FELT; NOON · BOOT · BOLT · BELT · FELT; and more.

The answer

NOON · BOON · BOOT · BOLT · BELT · FELT — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #8 (Sat, Aug 22) · Next: Rung #10 (Mon, Aug 24) · All Rung solutions

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.