POOPLE ANSWERS

DECEMBER 13, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #121

LENT to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
LENT
START
01
LEFT
LETTER 3
02
LOFT
LETTER 2
03
LOOT
LETTER 3
04
LOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

LENT and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the third letter changes more than once.

Start by changing the third letter: LENT โ†’ LEFT. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. LENT โ†’ LEFT: change letter 3 from N to F.
  2. LEFT โ†’ LOFT: change letter 2 from E to O.
  3. LOFT โ†’ LOOT: change letter 3 from F to O.
  4. LOOT โ†’ LOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  5. LOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.