Puzzle #231 · Apr 2, 2026
Poople #231 Answer: SWAT to POOP
Poople #231 was the puzzle for Thursday, April 2, 2026. The starting word was SWAT, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 13 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 #231 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 2nd letter of SWAT, the W.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after SWAT starts with S. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with S.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
SWAT → SLAT → SLAP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWAT | SLAT | 2nd letter W to L |
| 2 | SLAT | SLAP | 4th letter T to P |
| 3 | SLAP | SLOP | 3rd letter A to O |
| 4 | SLOP | PLOP | 1st letter S to P |
| 5 | PLOP | POOP | 2nd letter L to O |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from SWAT
Our word list allows 13 shortest ladders from SWAT to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 13 paths
- SWAT → SLAT → SLAP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SLAT → SLOT → PLOT → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SLAT → SLOT → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWAP → SLAP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SLAT → PLAT → PLOT → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWAP → SWOP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SLOT → PLOT → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SLOT → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SOOT → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SOOT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SOOT → SOON → POON → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SOOT → COOT → COOP → POOP
- SWAT → SWOT → SWOP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
Words one letter away from SWAT
These 15 words differ from SWAT 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.
- SCAT rare
- SEAT common
- SHAT rare
- SKAT rare
- SLAT common
- SPAT common
- STAT rare
- SWAB common
- SWAG rare
- SWAM common
- SWAN common
- SWAP common
- SWAY common
- SWOT rare
- TWAT rare
How hard was Poople #231?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #231 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #230 MUSE (Apr 1, 2026)
- Next: #232 LEVY (Apr 3, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #224 LANE, #227 SWAG, #230 MUSE
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #231?
Poople #231 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from SWAT 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 #231?
The starting word for Poople #231 was SWAT, on Thursday, April 2, 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 Hard. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #231?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with SWAT 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.