Rung #36: BOMB to VIEW — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 19, 2026: BOMB to VIEW, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from BOMB to VIEW. 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: 6 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 54 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. BOMB → TOMB — the first letter, B becomes T.
2. TOMB → TOMS — the fourth letter, B becomes S.
3. TOMS → TOES — the third letter, M becomes E.
4. TOES → TIES — the second letter, O becomes I.
5. TIES → VIES — the first letter, T becomes V.
6. VIES → VIEW — the fourth letter, S becomes W.

Other routes as short: BOMB · DOMS · DIMS · DIES · VIES · VIEW; BOMB · DOMS · DOES · DIES · VIES · VIEW; BOMB · TOMS · TOES · TIES · VIES · VIEW; and more.

The answer

BOMB · TOMB · TOMS · TOES · TIES · VIES · VIEW — 6 rungs.

Previous: Rung #35 (Fri, Sep 18) · Next: Rung #37 (Sun, Sep 20)

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.