Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-03-19: SINK → EARL

Date: 2026-03-19

SINK → EARL

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 7 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects SINK to EARL in 7 steps. This 4-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 SINK → SILK

Change the 3rd letter N to L, turning SINK into SILK.

Step 2 SILK → MILK

Change the 1st letter S to M, turning SILK into MILK.

Step 3 MILK → MILL

Change the 4th letter K to L, turning MILK into MILL.

Step 4 MILL → MALL

Change the 2nd letter I to A, turning MILL into MALL.

Step 5 MALL → CALL

Change the 1st letter M to C, turning MALL into CALL.

Step 6 CALL → CARL

Change the 3rd letter L to R, turning CALL into CARL.

Step 7 CARL → EARL

Change the 1st letter C to E, turning CARL into EARL.

Puzzle Insights

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

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

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 0, C→V 1, C→C 5.

Word stats: 8 words, 10 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both SINK and EARL first. This ladder needs 7 moves, and the endpoints already share 0 letter positions—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 3 from N to L first, but saves position 1 (C to E) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

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

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