Rung #78: TASKS to LIKED — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 31, 2026: TASKS to LIKED, 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 TASKS to LIKED. 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 6 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. TASKS → TAKES — the leap: S becomes K and K becomes E, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. TAKES → LAKES — the first letter, T becomes L.
3. LAKES → LAKED — the fifth letter, S becomes D.
4. LAKED → LIKED — the second letter, A becomes I.

Other routes as short: TASKS · TAKES · LAKES · LIKES · LIKED; TASKS · TAKES · TIKES · LIKES · LIKED; TASKS · LASES · LAKES · LAKED · LIKED; and more.

The answer

TASKS · TAKES · LAKES · LAKED · LIKED — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #77 (Fri, Oct 30) · Next: Rung #79 (Sun, Nov 1) · 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.