Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-06-13: LARRY → LAKES

Date: 2026-06-13

LARRY → LAKES

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 6 5 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects LARRY to LAKES in 6 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 LARRY → CARRY

Change the 1st letter L to C, turning LARRY into CARRY.

Step 2 CARRY → CAREY

Change the 4th letter R to E, turning CARRY into CAREY.

Step 3 CAREY → CASEY

Change the 3rd letter R to S, turning CAREY into CASEY.

Step 4 CASEY → CASES

Change the 5th letter Y to S, turning CASEY into CASES.

Step 5 CASES → CAKES

Change the 3rd letter S to K, turning CASES into CAKES.

Step 6 CAKES → LAKES

Change the 1st letter C to L, turning CAKES into LAKES.

Puzzle Insights

Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 3: 2, pos 4: 1, pos 5: 1. Most-changed position: 1, 3 (2).

Change sequence: 1, 4, 3, 5, 3, 1.

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

Word stats: 7 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

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

At the midpoint, CASEY 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 3 most often.

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