Poople #415 answer: TEEN to POOP
Reveal a clue, or open the full shortest path below.
STARTTEEN
→GOALPOOP
ANSWER & EXPLANATION
A nudge, or the whole answer?
Start small. Reveal only as much as you need.
01How many steps?
The shortest route takes 5 moves.
02Which letter changes first?
Change letter 1 first.
03What is the first word?
PEENTry PEEN from TEEN.
04Show the complete answer
- 0TEENstart
- 1PEENletter 1 changes
- 2PEEPletter 4 changes
- 3PREPletter 2 changes
- 4PROPletter 3 changes
- 5POOPletter 2 changes
The thinking behind the ladder
How TEEN gets to POOP
The starting word is TEEN. A shortest route needs 5 one-letter changes. There is one shortest route in our word list.
See the route, one change at a timeFull answer
- 1TEEN → PEENChange letter 1 from T to P.
- 2PEEN → PEEPChange letter 4 from N to P.
- 3PEEP → PREPChange letter 2 from E to R.
- 4PREP → PROPChange letter 3 from E to O.
- 5PROP → POOPChange letter 2 from R to O.
The first move matters
There are 9 accepted words one letter away from TEEN. 1 brings you a step closer to POOP. The other 8 are detours.
A valid word can still make the ladder longer. For a shortest solve, choose a move that leaves 4 steps to the goal.
Reveal first moves and detoursSpoiler
One step closer: PEEN.
Detours: BEEN, KEEN, SEEN, THEN, TERN, TEED, TEEM, TEES. These words are accepted, but do not reduce the remaining distance.
How hard is this puzzle?
Its 5 moves compare with a 5.6-move average over the last 31 published puzzles.
Shortest route · moves This puzzle
Of the other 30 puzzles: 0 shorter, 19 the same length, 11 longer.