Rung #47: BULB to STIR — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 30, 2026: BULB to STIR, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from BULB to STIR. 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: 6 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 29 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. BULB → BULL — the fourth letter, B becomes L.
2. BULL → BOLL — the second letter, U becomes O.
3. BOLL → BOIL — the third letter, L becomes I.
4. BOIL → SOIL — the first letter, B becomes S.
5. SOIL → STIR — the leap: O becomes T and L becomes R, two letters in one move for two rungs.

Other routes as short: BULB · BULL · BALL · BAIL · SAIL · SAIR · STIR; BULB · BULL · BALL · SALL · SAIL · SAIR · STIR; BULB · BULL · BELL · SELL · SEIL · SEIR · STIR; and more.

The answer

BULB · BULL · BOLL · BOIL · SOIL · STIR — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #46 (Tue, Sep 29)

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.