POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 29, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #15

WINE to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
WINE
START
01
DINE
LETTER 1
02
DIME
LETTER 3
03
DOME
LETTER 2
04
POME
LETTER 1
05
POMP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

WINE 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: WINE โ†’ DINE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.

Every letter change

  1. WINE โ†’ DINE: change letter 1 from W to D.
  2. DINE โ†’ DIME: change letter 3 from N to M.
  3. DIME โ†’ DOME: change letter 2 from I to O.
  4. DOME โ†’ POME: change letter 1 from D to P.
  5. POME โ†’ POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
  6. POMP โ†’ POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.