Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-07-01: LESS → CARB

Date: 2026-07-01

LESS → CARB

Difficulty: Easy Goal Steps: 5 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects LESS to CARB in 5 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 LESS → MESS

Change the 1st letter L to M, turning LESS into MESS.

Step 2 MESS → MASS

Change the 2nd letter E to A, turning MESS into MASS.

Step 3 MASS → MARS

Change the 3rd letter S to R, turning MASS into MARS.

Step 4 MARS → CARS

Change the 1st letter M to C, turning MARS into CARS.

Step 5 CARS → CARB

Change the 4th letter S to B, turning CARS into CARB.

Puzzle Insights

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

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

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

Word stats: 6 words, 8 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both LESS and CARB first. This ladder needs 5 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 L to M first, but saves position 4 (S to B) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, MARS 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 LESS to CARB without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.