Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-07-22: CAKES → SALEM

Date: 2026-07-22

CAKES → SALEM

Difficulty: Easy Goal Steps: 4 5 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects CAKES to SALEM in 4 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 CAKES → MAKES

Change the 1st letter C to M, turning CAKES into MAKES.

Step 2 MAKES → MALES

Change the 3rd letter K to L, turning MAKES into MALES.

Step 3 MALES → SALES

Change the 1st letter M to S, turning MALES into SALES.

Step 4 SALES → SALEM

Change the 5th letter S to M, turning SALES into SALEM.

Puzzle Insights

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

Change sequence: 1, 3, 1, 5.

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

Word stats: 5 words, 7 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

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

At the midpoint, MALES matches 3 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 CAKES to SALEM without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.