Word Ladder

Tuesday 8 September

Climb the word ladder from SWAP to CHAN.

Change one letter at a time. Every rung is a real word, and its clue is a real definition.

SWAP Start word
nounA quick blow with the open hand.
verbTo strike the palms of the hands together to make a sharp sound, especially to applaud.
nounInformal British term for a man or fellow.
nounA small piece of paper punched out of a ballot, punch card, or perforated stationery.
nounA cold-water fish related to salmon and trout, found in northern rivers and lakes.
CHAN Goal word

50 points left

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Frequently asked questions

What is a word ladder?

A word ladder is a puzzle invented by Lewis Carroll in 1877, in which you change one letter at a time to get from a start word to a goal word. Every step has to be a real word — COLD, CORD, WORD, WORM, WARM.

How do you play FreeDict's word ladder?

Each rung shows a dictionary definition. Type the four-letter word that matches it, changing exactly one letter from the rung above. Get all five and you have climbed the ladder.

Is there a new word ladder every day?

Yes. A new word ladder is published every day and everyone gets the same one, so a streak is worth keeping and a score is worth sharing.

Are the clues real dictionary definitions?

They are. Every clue is the definition FreeDict holds for that word, so solving the ladder teaches you five entries rather than testing one.

More word games

All games →

Quiz · Daily Daily Word Challenge Five fresh vocabulary questions, a new set every day. Word game · Daily Define One definition, one hidden word. Unlock a letter when you are stuck. Word game · Daily Which One? Four words that nearly mean the same. Only one fits the definition. Word game Word Scramble Unscramble the letters to find the hidden word. Quiz Word Origins Quiz Guess which language each English word comes from.