Rung #14: SPOT to EASY — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 28, 2026: SPOT to EASY, 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 EASY. 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 95 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SPOT → SIST — the leap: P becomes I and O becomes S, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. SIST → FIST — the first letter, S becomes F.
3. FIST → FAST — the second letter, I becomes A.
4. FAST → EAST — the first letter, F becomes E.
5. EAST → EASY — the fourth letter, T becomes Y.

Other routes as short: SPOT · SOOT · FOOT · FAST · EAST · EASY; SPOT · SOOT · LOOT · LOST · LAST · EAST · EASY; SPOT · SOOT · ROOT · ROST · RAST · EAST · EASY; and more.

The answer

SPOT · SIST · FIST · FAST · EAST · EASY — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #13 (Thu, Aug 27) · Next: Rung #15 (Sat, Aug 29)

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.