Word Ladder Daily
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Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects SHADE to STONE in 4 steps. This 5-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?
Play This PuzzleStep-by-Step Solution
Puzzle Insights
Change positions: pos 2: 1, pos 3: 1, pos 4: 2. Most-changed position: 4 (2).
Change sequence: 4, 3, 2, 4.
Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 0, C→V 0, C→C 3.
Word stats: 5 words, 9 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.
Try It Before You Reveal the Path
Cover the steps and work from both SHADE and STONE 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 4 from D to R first, but saves position 4 (R to N) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.
At the midpoint, SHORE matches 3 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 SHADE to STONE without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.