Rung #48: BRAVE to TRUNK — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 1, 2026: BRAVE to TRUNK, 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 BRAVE to TRUNK. 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 2 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. BRAVE → BRANK — the leap: V becomes N and E becomes K, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. BRANK → TRANK — the first letter, B becomes T.
3. TRANK → TRUNK — the third letter, A becomes U.

Another route as short: BRAVE · TRAVE · TRANK · TRUNK.

The answer

BRAVE · BRANK · TRANK · TRUNK — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #47 (Wed, Sep 30)

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.