Puzzle #264 · May 5, 2026

Poople #264 Answer: QUID to POOP

Poople #264 was the puzzle for Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The starting word was QUID, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 7 steps. We found 21 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 #264 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 4th letter of QUID, the D.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

The word after QUID starts with Q. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with S.

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

QUID → QUIT → SUIT → SLIT → SLIP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP

Shortest ladder Expert

7 steps

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

Letter changes, step by step
StepFromToChange
1QUIDQUIT4th letter D to T
2QUITSUIT1st letter Q to S
3SUITSLIT2nd letter U to L
4SLITSLIP4th letter T to P
5SLIPSLOP3rd letter I to O
6SLOPPLOP1st letter S to P
7PLOPPOOP2nd letter L to O
Play this puzzle

All shortest paths from QUID

Our word list allows 21 shortest ladders from QUID to POOP, each 7 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 21 paths
  1. QUID → QUIT → SUIT → SLIT → SLIP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
  2. QUID → QUIT → SUIT → SLIT → SLOT → PLOT → PLOP → POOP
  3. QUID → QUIT → SUIT → SLIT → SLOT → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
  4. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRIM → PRIM → PROM → PROP → POOP
  5. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRIP → DRIP → DROP → PROP → POOP
  6. QUID → QAID → LAID → LAIN → LOIN → LOON → LOOP → POOP
  7. QUID → QAID → PAID → PAIL → PALL → POLL → POOL → POOP
  8. QUID → QAID → SAID → SLID → SLIP → SLOP → PLOP → POOP
  9. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRIP → TRIP → TROP → PROP → POOP
  10. QUID → QAID → LAID → LAIN → LOIN → LOON → POON → POOP
  11. QUID → QAID → LAID → LAUD → LOUD → LOUP → LOOP → POOP
  12. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRAD → GOAD → GOOD → GOOP → POOP
  13. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRAD → GOAD → GOOD → POOD → POOP
  14. QUID → QAID → MAID → MAIL → MOIL → MOOL → POOL → POOP
  15. QUID → QAID → PAID → PAIN → PEIN → PEON → POON → POOP
  16. QUID → QAID → CAID → CHID → CHIP → CHOP → COOP → POOP
  17. QUID → QUIN → RUIN → REIN → PEIN → PEON → POON → POOP
  18. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRIG → GROG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  19. QUID → GUID → GRID → GRIG → PRIG → PROG → PROP → POOP
  20. QUID → QAID → CAID → CAIN → COIN → COON → COOP → POOP
  21. QUID → QAID → CAID → CAIN → COIN → COON → POON → POOP

Words one letter away from QUID

These 8 words differ from QUID 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.

  • GUID rare
  • QAID rare
  • QUAD rare
  • QUIN rare
  • QUIP common
  • QUIT common
  • QUIZ common
  • QUOD rare

How hard was Poople #264?

By our count it rates Expert: fewest 7 steps. That makes #264 harder than 93% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #264?

Poople #264 takes 7 steps. We count the fewest steps from QUID 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 #264?

The starting word for Poople #264 was QUID, on Tuesday, May 5, 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 #264?

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