Puzzle #31 · Sep 14, 2025
Poople #31 Answer: ARCH to POOP
Poople #31 was the puzzle for Sunday, September 14, 2025. The starting word was ARCH, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 8 steps. We found 13 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 #31 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 4th letter of ARCH, the H.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after ARCH starts with A. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with R.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
ARCH → ARCS → ARMS → AIMS → RIMS → ROMS → ROMP → POMP → POOP
8 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
ROMS is in our word list but marked rare, so the official game may not accept it.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARCH | ARCS | 4th letter H to S |
| 2 | ARCS | ARMS | 3rd letter C to M |
| 3 | ARMS | AIMS | 2nd letter R to I |
| 4 | AIMS | RIMS | 1st letter A to R |
| 5 | RIMS | ROMS | 2nd letter I to O |
| 6 | ROMS | ROMP | 4th letter S to P |
| 7 | ROMP | POMP | 1st letter R to P |
| 8 | POMP | POOP | 3rd letter M to O |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from ARCH
Our word list allows 13 shortest ladders from ARCH to POOP, each 8 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 13 paths
- ARCH → ARCS → ARMS → AIMS → RIMS → ROMS → ROMP → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARMS → AIMS → DIMS → DOMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARMS → AIMS → RIMS → ROMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARTS → AITS → PITS → POTS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARTS → ORTS → OOTS → COTS → COOS → COOP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARMS → AIMS → NIMS → NOMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARMS → AIMS → SIMS → SIMP → PIMP → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARTS → AITS → LITS → LOTS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARTS → ORTS → OOTS → LOTS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ARTS → ORTS → OOTS → POTS → POMS → POMP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ORCS → ORTS → OOTS → COTS → COOS → COOP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ORCS → ORTS → OOTS → LOTS → LOOS → LOOP → POOP
- ARCH → ARCS → ORCS → ORTS → OOTS → POTS → POMS → POMP → POOP
Words one letter away from ARCH
These 2 words differ from ARCH 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.
- ARCO rare
- ARCS common
How hard was Poople #31?
By our count it rates Expert: fewest 8 steps. That makes #31 harder than 98% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #30 PIES (Sep 13, 2025)
- Next: #32 PIER (Sep 15, 2025)
- Same difficulty: #57 AREA, #181 QUAY, #299 APPS
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #31?
Poople #31 takes 8 steps. We count the fewest steps from ARCH 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 #31?
The starting word for Poople #31 was ARCH, on Sunday, September 14, 2025. 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 Expert. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #31?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with ARCH 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.