Puzzle #296 · Jun 6, 2026
Poople #296 Answer: REED to POOP
Poople #296 was the puzzle for Saturday, June 6, 2026. The starting word was REED, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 10 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 #296 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 1st letter of REED, the R.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after REED starts with H. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with H.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
REED → HEED → HOED → HOOD → 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 | REED | HEED | 1st letter R to H |
| 2 | HEED | HOED | 2nd letter E to O |
| 3 | HOED | HOOD | 3rd letter E to O |
| 4 | HOOD | HOOP | 4th letter D to P |
| 5 | HOOP | POOP | 1st letter H to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from REED
Our word list allows 10 shortest ladders from REED to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 10 paths
- REED → HEED → HOED → HOOD → HOOP → POOP
- REED → HEED → HOED → HOOD → POOD → POOP
- REED → FEED → FEOD → FOOD → POOD → POOP
- REED → READ → ROAD → ROOD → POOD → POOP
- REED → REND → PEND → POND → POOD → POOP
- REED → PEED → PEEP → PREP → PROP → POOP
- REED → PEED → PLED → PLOD → PLOP → POOP
- REED → PEED → PEEN → PEON → POON → POOP
- REED → PEED → PEND → POND → POOD → POOP
- REED → PEED → PLED → PLOD → POOD → POOP
Words one letter away from REED
These 19 words differ from REED 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.
- DEED common
- FEED common
- GEED common
- HEED common
- JEED rare
- MEED rare
- NEED common
- PEED rare
- READ common
- REDD rare
- REEF common
- REEK common
- REEL common
- REES rare
- REND common
- RUED common
- SEED common
- TEED common
- WEED common
How hard was Poople #296?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #296 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #295 MOJO (Jun 5, 2026)
- Next: #297 RIPS (Jun 7, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #292 MUSS, #293 TEAS, #294 NAIL
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #296?
Poople #296 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from REED 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 #296?
The starting word for Poople #296 was REED, on Saturday, June 6, 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 #296?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with REED 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.