Rung #21: SUIT to FAME — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 4, 2026: SUIT to FAME, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from SUIT to FAME. 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 12 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SUIT → SAFT — the leap: U becomes A and I becomes F, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. SAFT → SAFE — the fourth letter, T becomes E.
3. SAFE → SAME — the third letter, F becomes M.
4. SAME → FAME — the first letter, S becomes F.

Other routes as short: SUIT · FUST · FUSE · FUME · FAME; SUIT · SAIS · SAMS · SAME · FAME; SUIT · SALT · SALE · SAME · FAME; and more.

The answer

SUIT · SAFT · SAFE · SAME · FAME — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #20 (Thu, Sep 3) · Next: Rung #22 (Sat, Sep 5) · 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.