Rung #57: TIMER to WORDS — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 10, 2026: TIMER to WORDS, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 7: the shortest climb there is takes 5 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from TIMER to WORDS. 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 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 6 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 3 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. TIMER → TIMES — the fifth letter, R becomes S.
2. TIMES → TIRES — the third letter, M becomes R.
3. TIRES → WIRES — the first letter, T becomes W.
4. WIRES → WORDS — the leap: I becomes O and E becomes D, two letters in one move for two rungs.

Other routes as short: TIMER · TIMES · TIRES · TORES · WORDS; TIMER · TIMES · TOMES · TORES · WORDS.

The answer

TIMER · TIMES · TIRES · WIRES · WORDS — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #56 (Fri, Oct 9) · Next: Rung #58 (Sun, Oct 11)

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.