Puzzle #334 · Jul 14, 2026

Poople #334 Answer: FUME to POOP

Poople #334 was the puzzle for Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The starting word was FUME, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 6 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 #334 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

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

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

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

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

FUME → FAME → CAME → CAMP → COMP → COOP → POOP

Shortest ladder Expert

6 steps

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

COMP is in our word list but marked rare, so the official game may not accept it.

Letter changes, step by step
StepFromToChange
1FUMEFAME2nd letter U to A
2FAMECAME1st letter F to C
3CAMECAMP4th letter E to P
4CAMPCOMP2nd letter A to O
5COMPCOOP3rd letter M to O
6COOPPOOP1st letter C to P
Play this puzzle

All shortest paths from FUME

Our word list allows 13 shortest ladders from FUME to POOP, each 6 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 13 paths
  1. FUME → FAME → CAME → CAMP → COMP → COOP → POOP
  2. FUME → FAME → CAME → CAMP → COMP → POMP → POOP
  3. FUME → FAME → CAME → COME → COMP → COOP → POOP
  4. FUME → FAME → CAME → COME → COMP → POMP → POOP
  5. FUME → FAME → CAME → COME → POME → POMP → POOP
  6. FUME → FAME → DAME → DOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  7. FUME → FAME → SAME → SOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  8. FUME → FAME → TAME → TOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  9. FUME → FAME → NAME → NOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  10. FUME → FAME → HAME → HOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  11. FUME → FEME → DEME → DOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  12. FUME → FEME → HEME → HOME → POME → POMP → POOP
  13. FUME → FEME → SEME → SOME → POME → POMP → POOP

Words one letter away from FUME

These 5 words differ from FUME 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.

  • FAME common
  • FEME rare
  • FUMY rare
  • FUSE common
  • FUZE rare

How hard was Poople #334?

By our count it rates Expert: fewest 6 steps. That makes #334 harder than 74% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #334?

Poople #334 takes 6 steps. We count the fewest steps from FUME 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 #334?

The starting word for Poople #334 was FUME, on Tuesday, July 14, 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 #334?

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