Puzzle #129 · Dec 21, 2025
Poople #129 Answer: RIBS to POOP
Poople #129 was the puzzle for Sunday, December 21, 2025. The starting word was RIBS, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 9 different shortest paths with our word list. Open the hints below one at a time if you want a nudge, or reveal the full ladder at the end.
Poople #129 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 2nd letter of RIBS, the I.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after RIBS starts with R. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with C.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
RIBS → ROBS → COBS → COOS → COOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIBS | ROBS | 2nd letter I to O |
| 2 | ROBS | COBS | 1st letter R to C |
| 3 | COBS | COOS | 3rd letter B to O |
| 4 | COOS | COOP | 4th letter S to P |
| 5 | COOP | POOP | 1st letter C to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from RIBS
Our word list allows 9 shortest ladders from RIBS to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 9 paths
- RIBS → ROBS → COBS → COOS → COOP → POOP
- RIBS → RIMS → ROMS → ROMP → POMP → POOP
- RIBS → ROBS → LOBS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
- RIBS → ROBS → ROMS → ROMP → POMP → POOP
- RIBS → RIMS → ROMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- RIBS → ROBS → GOBS → GOOS → GOOP → POOP
- RIBS → ROBS → ROMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- RIBS → LIBS → LOBS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
- RIBS → GIBS → GOBS → GOOS → GOOP → POOP
Words one letter away from RIBS
These 19 words differ from RIBS in one letter. Common words are in SCOWL size 35; rare words are only in the ENABLE list, and the official game is more likely to reject them.
- BIBS common
- DIBS rare
- FIBS common
- GIBS rare
- JIBS rare
- LIBS rare
- MIBS rare
- NIBS rare
- REBS rare
- RIAS rare
- RIDS common
- RIFS rare
- RIGS common
- RIMS common
- RINS rare
- RIPS common
- ROBS common
- RUBS common
- SIBS rare
How hard was Poople #129?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #129 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #128 RIFE (Dec 20, 2025)
- Next: #130 ARIA (Dec 22, 2025)
- Same difficulty: #120 HATE, #121 LENT, #123 DUES
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #129?
Poople #129 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from RIBS to POOP with a breadth-first search over our four-letter word list (ENABLE + SCOWL), and the official game uses its own word list, so its count can differ from ours.
What was the starting word for Poople #129?
The starting word for Poople #129 was RIBS, on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Every Poople puzzle ends at POOP, so the start word is the only thing that changes from day to day. With our word list this one rates Hard. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #129?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with RIBS as the start word, with Undo, Restart and three levels of hints. You can also play unlimited random puzzles on the home page, or pick any other past puzzle from the archive.