Rung #85: LIVES to MAJOR — the solution

The Rung ladder from November 7, 2026: LIVES to MAJOR, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 7: the shortest climb there is takes 6 rungs, and par gives you one to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from LIVES to MAJOR. 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 6 rungs; par is one more, so the shortest route comes in under it. The leap does not shorten this one: 6 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 93 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. LIVES → LINES — the third letter, V becomes N.
2. LINES → LANES — the second letter, I becomes A.
3. LANES → MANES — the first letter, L becomes M.
4. MANES → MANOS — the fourth letter, E becomes O.
5. MANOS → MANOR — the fifth letter, S becomes R.
6. MANOR → MAJOR — the third letter, N becomes J.

Other routes as short: LIVES · LINES · LINER · MINER · MINOR · MANOR · MAJOR; LIVES · LINES · LINOS · MINOS · MINOR · MANOR · MAJOR; LIVES · LINES · MINES · MINER · MINOR · MANOR · MAJOR; and more.

The answer

LIVES · LINES · LANES · MANES · MANOS · MANOR · MAJOR — 6 rungs.

Previous: Rung #84 (Fri, Nov 6) · Next: Rung #86 (Sun, Nov 8) · 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.