Puzzle #312 · Jun 22, 2026

Poople #312 Answer: VICE to POOP

Poople #312 was the puzzle for Monday, June 22, 2026. The starting word was VICE, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 6 steps. We found 21 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 #312 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 1st letter of VICE, the V.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

The word after VICE starts with L. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with L.

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

VICE → LICE → LICK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP

Shortest ladder Expert

6 steps

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

Letter changes, step by step
StepFromToChange
1VICELICE1st letter V to L
2LICELICK4th letter E to K
3LICKLOCK2nd letter I to O
4LOCKLOOK3rd letter C to O
5LOOKLOOP4th letter K to P
6LOOPPOOP1st letter L to P
Play this puzzle

All shortest paths from VICE

Our word list allows 21 shortest ladders from VICE to POOP, each 6 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 21 paths
  1. VICE → LICE → LICK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
  2. VICE → VILE → PILE → PILL → POLL → POOL → POOP
  3. VICE → VILE → PILE → POLE → POLL → POOL → POOP
  4. VICE → DICE → DIME → DOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  5. VICE → LICE → LIME → LIMP → PIMP → POMP → POOP
  6. VICE → VILE → PILE → POLE → POME → POMP → POOP
  7. VICE → VILE → VILL → PILL → POLL → POOL → POOP
  8. VICE → VILE → VOLE → POLE → POLL → POOL → POOP
  9. VICE → PICE → PILE → PILL → POLL → POOL → POOP
  10. VICE → PICE → PILE → POLE → POLL → POOL → POOP
  11. VICE → MICE → MIME → MOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  12. VICE → VILE → VOLE → HOLE → HOLP → HOOP → POOP
  13. VICE → VILE → VOLE → POLE → POME → POMP → POOP
  14. VICE → VINE → PINE → PONE → POND → POOD → POOP
  15. VICE → VINE → PINE → PONE → POME → POMP → POOP
  16. VICE → PICE → PIKE → POKE → POME → POMP → POOP
  17. VICE → PICE → PILE → POLE → POME → POMP → POOP
  18. VICE → PICE → PIPE → POPE → POME → POMP → POOP
  19. VICE → PICE → PINE → PONE → POND → POOD → POOP
  20. VICE → PICE → PINE → PONE → POME → POMP → POOP
  21. VICE → PICE → PICA → PIMA → PIMP → POMP → POOP

Words one letter away from VICE

These 15 words differ from VICE 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.

  • BICE rare
  • DICE common
  • FICE rare
  • LICE common
  • MICE common
  • NICE common
  • PICE rare
  • RICE common
  • SICE rare
  • VIBE rare
  • VIDE rare
  • VILE common
  • VINE common
  • VISE common
  • VIVE rare

How hard was Poople #312?

By our count it rates Expert: fewest 6 steps. That makes #312 harder than 74% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #312?

Poople #312 takes 6 steps. We count the fewest steps from VICE 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 #312?

The starting word for Poople #312 was VICE, on Monday, June 22, 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 Expert. Hints for it are at the top of this page.

Can I replay Poople #312?

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