POOPLE ANSWERS

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #384

NEWT to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
NEWT
START
01
NEAT
LETTER 3
02
BEAT
LETTER 1
03
BOAT
LETTER 2
04
BOOT
LETTER 3
05
BOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

NEWT 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 third letter: NEWT โ†’ NEAT. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. NEWT โ†’ NEAT: change letter 3 from W to A.
  2. NEAT โ†’ BEAT: change letter 1 from N to B.
  3. BEAT โ†’ BOAT: change letter 2 from E to O.
  4. BOAT โ†’ BOOT: change letter 3 from A to O.
  5. BOOT โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  6. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.