Rung #82: MAKER to HANDY — the solution

The Rung ladder from November 4, 2026: MAKER to HANDY, 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 MAKER to HANDY. 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. MAKER → MAKES — the fifth letter, R becomes S.
2. MAKES → HAKES — the first letter, M becomes H.
3. HAKES → HANDS — the leap: K becomes N and E becomes D, two letters in one move for two rungs.
4. HANDS → HANDY — the fifth letter, S becomes Y.

Other routes as short: MAKER · MAKES · MANES · HANDS · HANDY; MAKER · SAKER · SANER · SANDY · HANDY.

The answer

MAKER · MAKES · HAKES · HANDS · HANDY — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #81 (Tue, Nov 3) · Next: Rung #83 (Thu, Nov 5) · 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.