Rung #22: PALM to KIND — the solution

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

The puzzle

Climb from PALM to KIND. 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 65 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. PALM → PANG — the leap: L becomes N and M becomes G, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. PANG → KANG — the first letter, P becomes K.
3. KANG → KING — the second letter, A becomes I.
4. KING → KIND — the fourth letter, G becomes D.

Other routes as short: PALM · PANG · PING · KING · KIND; PALM · BALM · BALD · BAND · BIND · KIND; PALM · PALE · KALE · KANE · KINE · KIND; and more.

The answer

PALM · PANG · KANG · KING · KIND — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #21 (Fri, Sep 4) · Next: Rung #23 (Sun, Sep 6) · 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.