Puzzle #136 · Dec 28, 2025
Poople #136 Answer: DUET to POOP
Poople #136 was the puzzle for Sunday, December 28, 2025. The starting word was DUET, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 6 steps. We found 12 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 #136 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 4th letter of DUET, the T.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after DUET starts with D. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with D.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
DUET → DUEL → DULL → DOLL → POLL → POOL → POOP
6 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DUET | DUEL | 4th letter T to L |
| 2 | DUEL | DULL | 3rd letter E to L |
| 3 | DULL | DOLL | 2nd letter U to O |
| 4 | DOLL | POLL | 1st letter D to P |
| 5 | POLL | POOL | 3rd letter L to O |
| 6 | POOL | POOP | 4th letter L to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from DUET
Our word list allows 12 shortest ladders from DUET to POOP, each 6 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 12 paths
- DUET → DUEL → DULL → DOLL → POLL → POOL → POOP
- DUET → DUEL → DULL → PULL → POLL → POOL → POOP
- DUET → DUES → DOES → DOER → DOOR → POOR → POOP
- DUET → DUST → DOST → HOST → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- DUET → DUST → DOST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- DUET → DUST → LUST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- DUET → DUST → DOST → COST → COOT → COOP → POOP
- DUET → DEET → DEER → DOER → DOOR → POOR → POOP
- DUET → DUES → DOES → GOES → GOOS → GOOP → POOP
- DUET → DUES → DOES → DOMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- DUET → DUST → DOST → POST → POSH → POOH → POOP
- DUET → DEET → DEEP → PEEP → PREP → PROP → POOP
Words one letter away from DUET
These 9 words differ from DUET 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.
- DEET rare
- DIET common
- DUCT common
- DUEL common
- DUES common
- DUIT rare
- DUNT rare
- DUST common
- SUET rare
How hard was Poople #136?
By our count it rates Expert: fewest 6 steps. That makes #136 harder than 74% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #135 SASS (Dec 27, 2025)
- Next: #137 GORY (Dec 29, 2025)
- Same difficulty: #128 RIFE, #132 RIFF, #134 ARID
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #136?
Poople #136 takes 6 steps. We count the fewest steps from DUET 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 #136?
The starting word for Poople #136 was DUET, on Sunday, December 28, 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 Expert. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #136?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with DUET 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.