Puzzle #297 · Jun 7, 2026
Poople #297 Answer: RIPS to POOP
Poople #297 was the puzzle for Sunday, June 7, 2026. The starting word was RIPS, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 4 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 #297 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 1st letter of RIPS, the R.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after RIPS starts with L. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with L.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
RIPS → LIPS → LOPS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
LOOS is in our word list but marked rare, so the official game may not accept it.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIPS | LIPS | 1st letter R to L |
| 2 | LIPS | LOPS | 2nd letter I to O |
| 3 | LOPS | LOOS | 3rd letter P to O |
| 4 | LOOS | LOOP | 4th letter S to P |
| 5 | LOOP | POOP | 1st letter L to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from RIPS
Our word list allows 4 shortest ladders from RIPS to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 4 paths
- RIPS → LIPS → LOPS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
- RIPS → RIMS → ROMS → ROMP → POMP → POOP
- RIPS → RIMS → ROMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- RIPS → PIPS → POPS → POMS → POMP → POOP
Words one letter away from RIPS
These 21 words differ from RIPS 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.
- DIPS common
- GIPS rare
- HIPS common
- KIPS rare
- LIPS common
- NIPS common
- PIPS rare
- RAPS common
- REPS rare
- RIAS rare
- RIBS common
- RIDS common
- RIFS rare
- RIGS common
- RIMS common
- RINS rare
- RIPE common
- SIPS common
- TIPS common
- YIPS rare
- ZIPS common
How hard was Poople #297?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #297 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #296 REED (Jun 6, 2026)
- Next: #298 PACE (Jun 8, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #293 TEAS, #294 NAIL, #296 REED
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #297?
Poople #297 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from RIPS 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 #297?
The starting word for Poople #297 was RIPS, on Sunday, June 7, 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 #297?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with RIPS 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.