POOPLE ANSWERS

NOVEMBER 12, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #90

HARM to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
HARM
START
01
HARE
LETTER 4
02
PARE
LETTER 1
03
PORE
LETTER 2
04
POME
LETTER 3
05
POMP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

HARM and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the third and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the fourth letter: HARM โ†’ HARE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.

Every letter change

  1. HARM โ†’ HARE: change letter 4 from M to E.
  2. HARE โ†’ PARE: change letter 1 from H to P.
  3. PARE โ†’ PORE: change letter 2 from A to O.
  4. PORE โ†’ POME: change letter 3 from R to M.
  5. POME โ†’ POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
  6. POMP โ†’ POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.