Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-03-13: LOCKS → FORMS

Date: 2026-03-13

LOCKS → FORMS

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 7 5 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects LOCKS to FORMS in 7 steps. This 5-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 LOCKS → ROCKS

Change the 1st letter L to R, turning LOCKS into ROCKS.

Step 2 ROCKS → RACKS

Change the 2nd letter O to A, turning ROCKS into RACKS.

Step 3 RACKS → RACES

Change the 4th letter K to E, turning RACKS into RACES.

Step 4 RACES → FACES

Change the 1st letter R to F, turning RACES into FACES.

Step 5 FACES → FARES

Change the 3rd letter C to R, turning FACES into FARES.

Step 6 FARES → FARMS

Change the 4th letter E to M, turning FARES into FARMS.

Step 7 FARMS → FORMS

Change the 2nd letter A to O, turning FARMS into FORMS.

Puzzle Insights

Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 2: 2, pos 3: 1, pos 4: 2. Most-changed position: 1, 2, 4 (2).

Change sequence: 1, 2, 4, 1, 3, 4, 2.

Letter mix: V→V 2, V→C 1, C→V 1, C→C 3.

Word stats: 8 words, 10 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both LOCKS and FORMS first. This ladder needs 7 moves, and the endpoints already share 2 letter positions—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 1 from L to R first, but saves position 2 (A to O) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, FACES matches 2 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 1 and 2 and 4 most often.

Practice prompt: choose two unfamiliar bridge words, check their definitions, and write a short sentence for each. Then replay LOCKS to FORMS without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.