Rung #28: FEED to POSE — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 11, 2026: FEED to POSE, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from FEED to POSE. 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 56 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. FEED → FEES — the fourth letter, D becomes S.
2. FEES → FESS — the third letter, E becomes S.
3. FESS → FOSS — the second letter, E becomes O.
4. FOSS → POSS — the first letter, F becomes P.
5. POSS → POSE — the fourth letter, S becomes E.

Other routes as short: FEED · FEES · FOES · FOSS · POSS · POSE; FEED · FEET · FEST · PEST · POST · POSE; FEED · FEND · FOND · FONE · PONE · POSE; and more.

The answer

FEED · FEES · FESS · FOSS · POSS · POSE — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #27 (Thu, Sep 10) · Next: Rung #29 (Sat, Sep 12) · 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.