Rung #38: LEAN to WISH — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 21, 2026: LEAN to WISH, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from LEAN to WISH. 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 15 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. LEAN → LEAS — the fourth letter, N becomes S.
2. LEAS → LESS — the third letter, A becomes S.
3. LESS → WISS — the leap: L becomes W and E becomes I, two letters in one move for two rungs.
4. WISS → WISH — the fourth letter, S becomes H.

Other routes as short: LEAN · LEAT · LEST · LIST · WIST · WISH; LEAN · LEAT · LEST · WEST · WIST · WISH; LEAN · LECH · LICH · WICH · WISH; and more.

The answer

LEAN · LEAS · LESS · WISS · WISH — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #37 (Sun, Sep 20) · Next: Rung #39 (Tue, Sep 22)

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.