Puzzle #289 · May 30, 2026
Poople #289 Answer: GRAY to POOP
Poople #289 was the puzzle for Saturday, May 30, 2026. The starting word was GRAY, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 9 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 #289 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 4th letter of GRAY, the Y.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after GRAY starts with G. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with P.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
GRAY → GRAM → PRAM → PROM → PROP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRAY | GRAM | 4th letter Y to M |
| 2 | GRAM | PRAM | 1st letter G to P |
| 3 | PRAM | PROM | 3rd letter A to O |
| 4 | PROM | PROP | 4th letter M to P |
| 5 | PROP | POOP | 2nd letter R to O |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from GRAY
Our word list allows 9 shortest ladders from GRAY to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 9 paths
- GRAY → GRAM → PRAM → PROM → PROP → POOP
- GRAY → PRAY → PLAY → PLOY → PLOP → POOP
- GRAY → PRAY → PRAM → PROM → PROP → POOP
- GRAY → PRAY → PREY → PREP → PROP → POOP
- GRAY → TRAY → TRAP → TROP → PROP → POOP
- GRAY → TRAY → TROY → TROP → PROP → POOP
- GRAY → GRAD → GOAD → GOOD → GOOP → POOP
- GRAY → GRAD → GOAD → GOOD → POOD → POOP
- GRAY → GREY → PREY → PREP → PROP → POOP
Words one letter away from GRAY
These 11 words differ from GRAY 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.
- BRAY common
- DRAY rare
- FRAY common
- GRAB common
- GRAD rare
- GRAM common
- GRAN rare
- GRAT rare
- GREY rare
- PRAY common
- TRAY common
How hard was Poople #289?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #289 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #288 DUNE (May 29, 2026)
- Next: #290 DUNK (May 31, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #285 MUTE, #286 CAKE, #288 DUNE
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #289?
Poople #289 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from GRAY 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 #289?
The starting word for Poople #289 was GRAY, on Saturday, May 30, 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 #289?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with GRAY 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.