POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 22, 2026 · PUZZLE #373

ENDS to POOP.

One shortest route in 7 moves.

00
ENDS
START
01
ANDS
LETTER 1
02
AIDS
LETTER 2
03
BIDS
LETTER 1
04
BODS
LETTER 2
05
BOOS
LETTER 3
06
BOOP
LETTER 4
07
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 7 moves

ENDS 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: ENDS → ANDS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. ENDS → ANDS: change letter 1 from E to A.
  2. ANDS → AIDS: change letter 2 from N to I.
  3. AIDS → BIDS: change letter 1 from A to B.
  4. BIDS → BODS: change letter 2 from I to O.
  5. BODS → BOOS: change letter 3 from D to O.
  6. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  7. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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