POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 25, 2025 · PUZZLE #72

OWED to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
OWED
START
01
AWED
LETTER 1
02
APED
LETTER 2
03
SPED
LETTER 1
04
SLED
LETTER 2
05
PLED
LETTER 1
06
PLOD
LETTER 3
07
PLOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

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

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

Every letter change

  1. OWED → AWED: change letter 1 from O to A.
  2. AWED → APED: change letter 2 from W to P.
  3. APED → SPED: change letter 1 from A to S.
  4. SPED → SLED: change letter 2 from P to L.
  5. SLED → PLED: change letter 1 from S to P.
  6. PLED → PLOD: change letter 3 from E to O.
  7. PLOD → PLOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
  8. PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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