POOPLE ANSWERS

DECEMBER 12, 2025 · PUZZLE #120

HATE to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
HATE
START
01
DATE
LETTER 1
02
DAME
LETTER 3
03
DOME
LETTER 2
04
POME
LETTER 1
05
POMP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

HATE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: HATE → DATE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.

Every letter change

  1. HATE → DATE: change letter 1 from H to D.
  2. DATE → DAME: change letter 3 from T to M.
  3. DAME → DOME: change letter 2 from A to O.
  4. DOME → POME: change letter 1 from D to P.
  5. POME → POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
  6. POMP → POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
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