Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-07-12: FULL → KIRK

Date: 2026-07-12

FULL → KIRK

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 7 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects FULL to KIRK 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 FULL → FILL

Change the 2nd letter U to I, turning FULL into FILL.

Step 2 FILL → MILL

Change the 1st letter F to M, turning FILL into MILL.

Step 3 MILL → MILK

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

Step 4 MILK → SILK

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

Step 5 SILK → SICK

Change the 3rd letter L to C, turning SILK into SICK.

Step 6 SICK → KICK

Change the 1st letter S to K, turning SICK into KICK.

Step 7 KICK → KIRK

Change the 3rd letter C to R, turning KICK into KIRK.

Puzzle Insights

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

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

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 0, C→V 0, C→C 6.

Word stats: 8 words, 9 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both FULL and KIRK 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 2 from U to I first, but saves position 3 (C to R) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, SILK 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 FULL to KIRK without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.