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 → LEAT — the fourth letter, N becomes T.
2. LEAT → LEST — the third letter, A becomes S.
3. LEST → LIST — the second letter, E becomes I.
4. LIST → WIST — the first letter, L becomes W.
5. WIST → WISH — the fourth letter, T becomes H.

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

The answer

LEAN · LEAT · LEST · LIST · WIST · WISH — 5 rungs.

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