Word Ladder Daily
Archive
Date: 2026-07-23
NEAR → BACK
Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects NEAR to BACK in 7 steps. This 4-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?
Play This PuzzleStep-by-Step Solution
Step 1
NEAR → BEAR
Change the 1st letter N to B, turning NEAR into BEAR.
Step 2
BEAR → BEAT
Change the 4th letter R to T, turning BEAR into BEAT.
Step 3
BEAT → BENT
Change the 3rd letter A to N, turning BEAT into BENT.
Step 4
BENT → BEND
Change the 4th letter T to D, turning BENT into BEND.
Step 5
BEND → BAND
Change the 2nd letter E to A, turning BEND into BAND.
Step 6
BAND → BANK
Change the 4th letter D to K, turning BAND into BANK.
Step 7
BANK → BACK
Change the 3rd letter N to C, turning BANK into BACK.
Puzzle Insights
Change positions: pos 1: 1, pos 2: 1, pos 3: 2, pos 4: 3. Most-changed position: 4 (3).
Change sequence: 1, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3.
Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 1, C→V 0, C→C 5.
Word stats: 8 words, 9 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.
FAQ
Q: What is the shortest path from NEAR to BACK?
A: The optimal solution for the Word Ladder from NEAR to BACK takes exactly 7 steps.
Q: Any tips for today's puzzle?
A: This puzzle involves 4-letter words. A good strategy is to look for common intermediate words or focus on changing vowels first.
Q: Where can I play past Word Ladder puzzles?
A: You can access our complete archive by clicking the "Puzzle Archive" link at the bottom of the page.
Word Definitions
NEAR
BEAR
BEAT
BENT
BEND
BAND
BANK
BACK