Puzzle #272 · May 13, 2026
Poople #272 Answer: MUST to POOP
Poople #272 was the puzzle for Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The starting word was MUST, 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 #272 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 1st letter of MUST, the M.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after MUST starts with L. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with L.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
MUST → LUST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MUST | LUST | 1st letter M to L |
| 2 | LUST | LOST | 2nd letter U to O |
| 3 | LOST | LOOT | 3rd letter S to O |
| 4 | LOOT | LOOP | 4th letter T to P |
| 5 | LOOP | POOP | 1st letter L to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from MUST
Our word list allows 13 shortest ladders from MUST to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 13 paths
- MUST → LUST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → HOST → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → MOOR → POOR → POOP
- MUST → MOST → COST → COOT → COOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → MOOD → POOD → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → MOON → POON → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → COOT → COOP → POOP
- MUST → MOST → MOOT → MOOL → POOL → POOP
- MUST → MOST → POST → POSH → POOH → POOP
- MUST → MUSH → PUSH → POSH → POOH → POOP
Words one letter away from MUST
These 15 words differ from MUST 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.
- BUST common
- DUST common
- GUST common
- JUST common
- LUST common
- MAST common
- MIST common
- MOST common
- MUSE common
- MUSH common
- MUSK common
- MUSS common
- MUTT common
- OUST common
- RUST common
How hard was Poople #272?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #272 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #271 BUTT (May 12, 2026)
- Next: #273 PITY (May 14, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #269 SNUG, #270 DUNG, #271 BUTT
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #272?
Poople #272 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from MUST 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 #272?
The starting word for Poople #272 was MUST, on Wednesday, May 13, 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 #272?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with MUST 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.