Rung #20: CORD to FEAR — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 3, 2026: CORD to FEAR, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from CORD to FEAR. 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 33 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. CORD → HERD — the leap: C becomes H and O becomes E, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. HERD → HEAD — the third letter, R becomes A.
3. HEAD → HEAR — the fourth letter, D becomes R.
4. HEAR → FEAR — the first letter, H becomes F.

Other routes as short: CORD · ROAD · READ · REAR · FEAR; CORD · LORD · LOAD · LEAD · LEAR · FEAR; CORD · COAL · FOAL · FEAL · FEAR; and more.

The answer

CORD · HERD · HEAD · HEAR · FEAR — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #19 (Wed, Sep 2) · Next: Rung #21 (Fri, Sep 4)

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.