Puzzle #292 · Jun 2, 2026

Poople #292 Answer: MUSS to POOP

Poople #292 was the puzzle for Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The starting word was MUSS, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 15 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 #292 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 2nd letter of MUSS, the U.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

The word after MUSS starts with M. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with C.

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → COOS → COOP → POOP

Shortest ladder Hard

5 steps

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

Letter changes, step by step
StepFromToChange
1MUSSMOSS2nd letter U to O
2MOSSMOOS3rd letter S to O
3MOOSCOOS1st letter M to C
4COOSCOOP4th letter S to P
5COOPPOOP1st letter C to P
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All shortest paths from MUSS

Our word list allows 15 shortest ladders from MUSS to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 15 paths
  1. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  2. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → MOOR → POOR → POOP
  3. MUSS → MOSS → LOSS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
  4. MUSS → MOSS → MOMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
  5. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → MOOD → POOD → POOP
  6. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → MOON → POON → POOP
  7. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
  8. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → MOOL → POOL → POOP
  9. MUSS → MOSS → COSS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  10. MUSS → MOSS → MOOS → GOOS → GOOP → POOP
  11. MUSS → MUSH → PUSH → POSH → POOH → POOP
  12. MUSS → PUSS → PUSH → POSH → POOH → POOP
  13. MUSS → CUSS → COSS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  14. MUSS → MUMS → MOMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
  15. MUSS → MUMS → MUMP → PUMP → POMP → POOP

Words one letter away from MUSS

These 19 words differ from MUSS 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.

  • BUSS rare
  • CUSS rare
  • FUSS common
  • MASS common
  • MESS common
  • MISS common
  • MOSS common
  • MUDS rare
  • MUGS common
  • MUMS rare
  • MUNS rare
  • MUSE common
  • MUSH common
  • MUSK common
  • MUST common
  • MUTS rare
  • PUSS common
  • SUSS rare
  • WUSS rare

How hard was Poople #292?

By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #292 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #292?

Poople #292 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from MUSS 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 #292?

The starting word for Poople #292 was MUSS, on Tuesday, June 2, 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 #292?

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