Puzzle #252 · Apr 23, 2026
Poople #252 Answer: MUTT to POOP
Poople #252 was the puzzle for Thursday, April 23, 2026. The starting word was MUTT, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 7 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 #252 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 2nd letter of MUTT, the U.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after MUTT starts with M. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with H.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
MOTT is in our word list but marked rare, so the official game may not accept it.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUTT | MOTT | 2nd letter U to O |
| 2 | MOTT | MOOT | 3rd letter T to O |
| 3 | MOOT | HOOT | 1st letter M to H |
| 4 | HOOT | HOOP | 4th letter T to P |
| 5 | HOOP | POOP | 1st letter H to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from MUTT
Our word list allows 7 shortest ladders from MUTT to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 7 paths
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → MOOR → POOR → POOP
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → MOOD → POOD → POOP
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → MOON → POON → POOP
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → COOT → COOP → POOP
- MUTT → MOTT → MOOT → MOOL → POOL → POOP
Words one letter away from MUTT
These 8 words differ from MUTT 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.
- BUTT common
- MATT rare
- MITT common
- MOTT rare
- MUST common
- MUTE common
- MUTS rare
- PUTT common
How hard was Poople #252?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #252 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #251 BURR (Apr 22, 2026)
- Next: #253 SAYS (Apr 24, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #249 FLUX, #250 RIND, #251 BURR
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #252?
Poople #252 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from MUTT 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 #252?
The starting word for Poople #252 was MUTT, on Thursday, April 23, 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 #252?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with MUTT 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.