Letter Boxed July 24, 2026: Hints & Answers

edited by Sam Ezersky.

Recap

This puzzle required a strategic approach to linking words across the board's sides. Solvers had to balance the need for common letters with the constraints of consecutive letters and word chaining. The official chain and alternate solutions demonstrate the board's potential for creative wordplay.

The board that was printed

Twelve letters, three to a side. A word could hop from any side to any other but never twice in a row from the same side, and each word had to start on the letter the last one ended on.

  • TopAPD
  • RightRCE
  • BottomLMU
  • LeftBOK

Par is 4 words. This board accepts 1041 words in total.

Letter Boxed hints, one rung at a time

Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the chain, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

  1. Hint 1: How the board wanted to be attacked

    Method only — no word from the chain.

    The board has a mix of common and less common letters. Look for an opening word that uses a side with multiple vowels or common consonants. The goal is to find a word that sets up multiple possibilities for the next word, avoiding sides with awkward letter combinations. Focus on using sides with letters like L, M, and R to create a flexible chain.

  2. Hint 2: Board facts: letters, par and how many words fitted

    Read off the board.

    Top side
    A · P · D
    Right side
    R · C · E
    Bottom side
    L · M · U
    Left side
    B · O · K
    Par
    4 words
    Official chain
    2 words
    Words this board accepted
    1041
  3. Hint 3: The opening word, without naming it

    The first word has 5 letters and starts with C. Consider how this length and starting letter could help you access multiple sides of the board.

  4. Hint 4: How long the opening word was, and where it started
    Opening word
    6 letters, starts with C
    Word 2
    8 letters
  5. Hint 5: The opening word itself

    The recap above already named it; this rung is for a replay.

    Word 1
    COUPLE
  6. Hint 6: What each remaining word had to do

    Last rung before the full chain.

    Each word after the first began on the letter the previous one ended on, and between them they covered all 12 letters.

    Word 2
    8 letters, starts with E

Every word of that day's chain

All the words, folded. Each one stays hidden until you open it.

  • Word 1 · 6 letters

    COUPLE

    A COUPLE refers to two people in a romantic relationship. It uses the letters C, O, U, P, L, and E, clearing the side APD and setting up the next word to start with E.

  • Word 2 · 8 letters

    EMBARKED

    EMBARKED means to start a journey or venture. It uses the letters E, M, B, A, R, K, E, and D, clearing the sides RCE and LMU, and demonstrating a strong connection between the two words.

Other chains that solved that board

Any chain using all twelve letters, each word starting where the last ended, was a win. These came out of that board's own word list, so every one of them was playable.

  • Alternate chain 1 · 2 words

    BACKCOMBEDDRUPEL

  • Alternate chain 2 · 2 words

    CABLEMODEMMARKUP

  • Alternate chain 3 · 2 words

    COCKLEBURRAMPED

This board by the numbers

Date
Friday, July 24, 2026
Board
4 sides of 3 letters
Par
4 words
Official chain
2 words
Words accepted
1041 on this board
Other chains we verified
3

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