Rung #16: CARE to SOIL — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 30, 2026: CARE to SOIL, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5.

The puzzle

Climb from CARE to SOIL. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, so it cannot be beaten. 5 rungs is the fewest there are.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 24 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. CARE → CARD — the fourth letter, E becomes D.
2. CARD → CAID — the third letter, R becomes I.
3. CAID → SAID — the first letter, C becomes S.
4. SAID → SAIL — the fourth letter, D becomes L.
5. SAIL → SOIL — the second letter, A becomes O.

Other routes as short: CARE · CARD · SARD · SAID · SAIL · SOIL; CARE · CARL · CALL · SALL · SAIL · SOIL; CARE · CARL · FARL · FAIL · SAIL · SOIL; and more.

The answer

CARE · CARD · CAID · SAID · SAIL · SOIL — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #15 (Sat, Aug 29) · Next: Rung #17 (Mon, Aug 31)

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.