POOPLE ANSWERS

FEBRUARY 17, 2026 · PUZZLE #187

ANEW to POOP.

One shortest route in 7 moves.

00
ANEW
START
01
KNEW
LETTER 1
02
KNOW
LETTER 3
03
SNOW
LETTER 1
04
SLOW
LETTER 2
05
PLOW
LETTER 1
06
PLOP
LETTER 4
07
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 7 moves

ANEW and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 3 additional moves; the first and second letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: ANEW → KNEW. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.

Every letter change

  1. ANEW → KNEW: change letter 1 from A to K.
  2. KNEW → KNOW: change letter 3 from E to O.
  3. KNOW → SNOW: change letter 1 from K to S.
  4. SNOW → SLOW: change letter 2 from N to L.
  5. SLOW → PLOW: change letter 1 from S to P.
  6. PLOW → PLOP: change letter 4 from W to P.
  7. PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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