Puzzle #278 · May 19, 2026
Poople #278 Answer: PACK to POOP
Poople #278 was the puzzle for Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The starting word was PACK, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 8 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 #278 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 1st letter of PACK, the P.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after PACK starts with H. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with H.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
PACK → HACK → HOCK → HOOK → 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 | PACK | HACK | 1st letter P to H |
| 2 | HACK | HOCK | 2nd letter A to O |
| 3 | HOCK | HOOK | 3rd letter C to O |
| 4 | HOOK | HOOP | 4th letter K to P |
| 5 | HOOP | POOP | 1st letter H to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from PACK
Our word list allows 8 shortest ladders from PACK to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 8 paths
- PACK → HACK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- PACK → LACK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- PACK → POCK → COCK → COOK → COOP → POOP
- PACK → POCK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- PACK → POCK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- PACK → PARK → PORK → PORN → POON → POOP
- PACK → PACS → PAMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- PACK → POCK → PORK → PORN → POON → POOP
Words one letter away from PACK
These 20 words differ from PACK 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.
- BACK common
- HACK common
- JACK common
- LACK common
- MACK rare
- PACA rare
- PACE common
- PACS rare
- PACT common
- PAIK rare
- PARK common
- PECK common
- PICK common
- POCK rare
- PUCK common
- RACK common
- SACK common
- TACK common
- WACK rare
- YACK rare
How hard was Poople #278?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #278 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #277 GEEK (May 18, 2026)
- Next: #279 VIBE (May 20, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #272 MUST, #273 PITY, #277 GEEK
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #278?
Poople #278 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from PACK 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 #278?
The starting word for Poople #278 was PACK, on Tuesday, May 19, 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 #278?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with PACK 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.