POOPLE ANSWERS

FEBRUARY 11, 2026 · PUZZLE #181

QUAY to POOP.

One shortest route in 9 moves.

00
QUAY
START
01
QUAD
LETTER 4
02
QUID
LETTER 3
03
QUIT
LETTER 4
04
SUIT
LETTER 1
05
SLIT
LETTER 2
06
SLIP
LETTER 4
07
SLOP
LETTER 3
08
PLOP
LETTER 1
09
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 9 moves

QUAY and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 5 additional moves; the first and second and third and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the fourth letter: QUAY → QUAD. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.

Every letter change

  1. QUAY → QUAD: change letter 4 from Y to D.
  2. QUAD → QUID: change letter 3 from A to I.
  3. QUID → QUIT: change letter 4 from D to T.
  4. QUIT → SUIT: change letter 1 from Q to S.
  5. SUIT → SLIT: change letter 2 from U to L.
  6. SLIT → SLIP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  7. SLIP → SLOP: change letter 3 from I to O.
  8. SLOP → PLOP: change letter 1 from S to P.
  9. PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
← All saved puzzlesPlay this puzzle →Today's answer →