Puzzle #173 · Feb 3, 2026

Poople #173 Answer: WRIT to POOP

Poople #173 was the puzzle for Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The starting word was WRIT, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 6 steps. We found 17 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 #173 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 1st letter of WRIT, the W.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

The word after WRIT starts with G. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with P.

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

WRIT → GRIT → GRIM → PRIM → PROM → PROP → POOP

Shortest ladder Expert

6 steps

Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.

Letter changes, step by step
StepFromToChange
1WRITGRIT1st letter W to G
2GRITGRIM4th letter T to M
3GRIMPRIM1st letter G to P
4PRIMPROM3rd letter I to O
5PROMPROP4th letter M to P
6PROPPOOP2nd letter R to O
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All shortest paths from WRIT

Our word list allows 17 shortest ladders from WRIT to POOP, each 6 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 17 paths
  1. WRIT → GRIT → GRIM → PRIM → PROM → PROP → POOP
  2. WRIT → GRIT → GRIP → DRIP → DROP → PROP → POOP
  3. WRIT → GRIT → GRIP → TRIP → TROP → PROP → POOP
  4. WRIT → GRIT → GROT → GROW → PROW → PROP → POOP
  5. WRIT → BRIT → BRIM → PRIM → PROM → PROP → POOP
  6. WRIT → FRIT → FLIT → FLIP → FLOP → PLOP → POOP
  7. WRIT → WHIT → WHIP → CHIP → CHOP → COOP → POOP
  8. WRIT → GRIT → GROT → TROT → TROP → PROP → POOP
  9. WRIT → WHIT → WHIP → WHOP → CHOP → COOP → POOP
  10. WRIT → WHIT → CHIT → CHIP → CHOP → COOP → POOP
  11. WRIT → GRIT → GRIG → GROG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  12. WRIT → GRIT → GRIG → PRIG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  13. WRIT → GRIT → GROT → GROG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  14. WRIT → BRIT → BRIS → BROS → PROS → PROP → POOP
  15. WRIT → FRIT → FRIG → FROG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  16. WRIT → BRIT → BRIG → PRIG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  17. WRIT → FRIT → FRIG → PRIG → PROG → PROP → POOP

Words one letter away from WRIT

These 5 words differ from WRIT 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.

  • BRIT rare
  • FRIT rare
  • GRIT common
  • WAIT common
  • WHIT rare

How hard was Poople #173?

By our count it rates Expert: fewest 6 steps. That makes #173 harder than 74% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #173?

Poople #173 takes 6 steps. We count the fewest steps from WRIT 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 #173?

The starting word for Poople #173 was WRIT, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. 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 #173?

Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with WRIT 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.