Rung #62: WIDER to MOVES — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 15, 2026: WIDER to MOVES, 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 WIDER to MOVES. 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 6 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. WIDER → MODER — the leap: W becomes M and I becomes O, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. MODER → MODES — the fifth letter, R becomes S.
3. MODES → MOVES — the third letter, D becomes V.

Other routes as short: WIDER · WIDES · MODES · MOVES; WIDER · WIDES · WIVES · MOVES; WIDER · WIVER · WIVES · MOVES; and more.

The answer

WIDER · MODER · MODES · MOVES — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #61 (Wed, Oct 14) · Next: Rung #63 (Fri, Oct 16) · 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.