Rung #37: FEAR to CARD — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 20, 2026: FEAR to CARD, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from FEAR to CARD. 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 43 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. FEAR → HEAR — the first letter, F becomes H.
2. HEAR → HEAD — the fourth letter, R becomes D.
3. HEAD → HERD — the third letter, A becomes R.
4. HERD → HARD — the second letter, E becomes A.
5. HARD → CARD — the first letter, H becomes C.

Other routes as short: FEAR · HEAR · HERD · HARD · CARD; FEAR · YEAR · YAAR · YARR · YARD · CARD; FEAR · YEAR · YEAD · YERD · YARD · CARD; and more.

The answer

FEAR · HEAR · HEAD · HERD · HARD · CARD — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #36 (Sat, Sep 19) · Next: Rung #38 (Mon, Sep 21)

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.