Rung #42: SELLS to DEATH — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 25, 2026: SELLS to DEATH, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 4 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from SELLS to DEATH. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 4 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 5 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 4 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SELLS → DELLS — the first letter, S becomes D.
2. DELLS → DEALS — the third letter, L becomes A.
3. DEALS → DEATH — the leap: L becomes T and S becomes H, two letters in one move for two rungs.

Other routes as short: SELLS · SEALS · DEALS · DEATH; SELLS · SEALS · SEATS · DEATH; SELLS · DELLS · DELTS · DEATH.

The answer

SELLS · DELLS · DEALS · DEATH — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #41 (Thu, Sep 24) · Next: Rung #43 (Sat, Sep 26) · All Rung solutions

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.