Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-07-24: SHAME → FEARS

Date: 2026-07-24

SHAME → FEARS

Difficulty: Hard Goal Steps: 8 5 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects SHAME to FEARS in 8 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 SHAME → SHAKE

Change the 4th letter M to K, turning SHAME into SHAKE.

Step 2 SHAKE → STAKE

Change the 2nd letter H to T, turning SHAKE into STAKE.

Step 3 STAKE → STATE

Change the 4th letter K to T, turning STAKE into STATE.

Step 4 STATE → STATS

Change the 5th letter E to S, turning STATE into STATS.

Step 5 STATS → SEATS

Change the 2nd letter T to E, turning STATS into SEATS.

Step 6 SEATS → BEATS

Change the 1st letter S to B, turning SEATS into BEATS.

Step 7 BEATS → BEARS

Change the 4th letter T to R, turning BEATS into BEARS.

Step 8 BEARS → FEARS

Change the 1st letter B to F, turning BEARS into FEARS.

Puzzle Insights

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

Change sequence: 4, 2, 4, 5, 2, 1, 4, 1.

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

Word stats: 9 words, 10 unique letters. Start/target share 1 position.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both SHAME and FEARS first. This ladder needs 8 moves, and the endpoints already share 1 letter position—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 4 from M to K first, but saves position 1 (B to F) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, STATS matches 2 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 4 most often.

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