Puzzle #263 · May 4, 2026
Poople #263 Answer: TIED to POOP
Poople #263 was the puzzle for Monday, May 4, 2026. The starting word was TIED, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 6 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 #263 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 2nd letter of TIED, the I.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after TIED starts with T. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with H.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
TIED → TOED → HOED → HOOD → HOOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIED | TOED | 2nd letter I to O |
| 2 | TOED | HOED | 1st letter T to H |
| 3 | HOED | HOOD | 3rd letter E to O |
| 4 | HOOD | HOOP | 4th letter D to P |
| 5 | HOOP | POOP | 1st letter H to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from TIED
Our word list allows 6 shortest ladders from TIED to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 6 paths
- TIED → TOED → HOED → HOOD → HOOP → POOP
- TIED → TOED → HOED → HOOD → POOD → POOP
- TIED → HIED → HOED → HOOD → HOOP → POOP
- TIED → HIED → HOED → HOOD → POOD → POOP
- TIED → PIED → PLED → PLOD → PLOP → POOP
- TIED → PIED → PLED → PLOD → POOD → POOP
Words one letter away from TIED
These 10 words differ from TIED 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.
- DIED common
- GIED rare
- HIED rare
- LIED common
- PIED rare
- TEED common
- TIER common
- TIES common
- TOED common
- VIED common
How hard was Poople #263?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #263 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #262 EACH (May 3, 2026)
- Next: #264 QUID (May 5, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #259 LAMB, #260 EELS, #261 SHIN
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #263?
Poople #263 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from TIED 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 #263?
The starting word for Poople #263 was TIED, on Monday, May 4, 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 #263?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with TIED 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.