POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 5, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #356

HUGS to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
HUGS
START
01
BUGS
LETTER 1
02
BOGS
LETTER 2
03
BOOS
LETTER 3
04
BOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

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

Start by changing the first letter: HUGS โ†’ BUGS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. HUGS โ†’ BUGS: change letter 1 from H to B.
  2. BUGS โ†’ BOGS: change letter 2 from U to O.
  3. BOGS โ†’ BOOS: change letter 3 from G to O.
  4. BOOS โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  5. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.