Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-04-06: SAFE → BEST

Date: 2026-04-06

SAFE → BEST

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 6 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects SAFE to BEST in 6 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 SAFE → CAFE

Change the 1st letter S to C, turning SAFE into CAFE.

Step 2 CAFE → CASE

Change the 3rd letter F to S, turning CAFE into CASE.

Step 3 CASE → CAST

Change the 4th letter E to T, turning CASE into CAST.

Step 4 CAST → PAST

Change the 1st letter C to P, turning CAST into PAST.

Step 5 PAST → PEST

Change the 2nd letter A to E, turning PAST into PEST.

Step 6 PEST → BEST

Change the 1st letter P to B, turning PEST into BEST.

Puzzle Insights

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

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

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 1, C→V 0, C→C 4.

Word stats: 7 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both SAFE and BEST first. This ladder needs 6 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 1 from S to C first, but saves position 1 (P to B) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, CAST 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 SAFE to BEST without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.