Rung #43: WINGS to SAVED — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 26, 2026: WINGS to SAVED, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 5 rungs, and par gives you one to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from WINGS to SAVED. 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 5 rungs; par is one more, so the shortest route comes in under it. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 99 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. WINGS → WINES — the fourth letter, G becomes E.
2. WINES → WIVES — the third letter, N becomes V.
3. WIVES → WAVES — the second letter, I becomes A.
4. WAVES → SAVES — the first letter, W becomes S.
5. SAVES → SAVED — the fifth letter, S becomes D.

Other routes as short: WINGS · WINES · WIVES · WAVES · WAVED · SAVED; WINGS · WINES · WIVES · WIVED · WAVED · SAVED; WINGS · WIVES · WAVES · SAVES · SAVED; and more.

The answer

WINGS · WINES · WIVES · WAVES · SAVES · SAVED — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #42 (Fri, Sep 25) · Next: Rung #44 (Sun, Sep 27) · 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.