Rung #10: CODE to WEAK — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 24, 2026: CODE to WEAK, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from CODE to WEAK. 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 11 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. CODE → BODE — the first letter, C becomes B.
2. BODE → BOAK — the leap: D becomes A and E becomes K, two letters in one move for two rungs.
3. BOAK → BEAK — the second letter, O becomes E.
4. BEAK → WEAK — the first letter, B becomes W.

Other routes as short: CODE · BODE · BEDE · BEAK · WEAK; CODE · CEDE · BEDE · BEAK · WEAK; CODE · CEDE · REDE · REAK · WEAK; and more.

The answer

CODE · BODE · BOAK · BEAK · WEAK — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #9 (Sun, Aug 23) · Next: Rung #11 (Tue, Aug 25) · 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.