Puzzle #380 · Aug 29, 2026

Poople #380 Answer: CAPE to POOP

Poople #380 was the puzzle for Saturday, August 29, 2026. The starting word was CAPE, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 11 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 #380 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 4th letter of CAPE, the E.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

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

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

CAPE → CAPS → COPS → COOS → COOP → POOP

Shortest ladder Hard

5 steps

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

Letter changes, step by step
StepFromToChange
1CAPECAPS4th letter E to S
2CAPSCOPS2nd letter A to O
3COPSCOOS3rd letter P to O
4COOSCOOP4th letter S to P
5COOPPOOP1st letter C to P
Play this puzzle

All shortest paths from CAPE

Our word list allows 11 shortest ladders from CAPE to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 11 paths
  1. CAPE → CAPS → COPS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  2. CAPE → COPE → COPS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  3. CAPE → CAME → CAMP → COMP → COOP → POOP
  4. CAPE → CAME → CAMP → COMP → POMP → POOP
  5. CAPE → CAME → COME → COMP → COOP → POOP
  6. CAPE → CAME → COME → COMP → POMP → POOP
  7. CAPE → CAME → COME → POME → POMP → POOP
  8. CAPE → COPE → COME → COMP → COOP → POOP
  9. CAPE → COPE → COME → COMP → POMP → POOP
  10. CAPE → COPE → COME → POME → POMP → POOP
  11. CAPE → COPE → POPE → POME → POMP → POOP

Words one letter away from CAPE

These 20 words differ from CAPE 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.

  • CADE rare
  • CAFE common
  • CAGE common
  • CAKE common
  • CAME common
  • CANE common
  • CAPH rare
  • CAPO rare
  • CAPS common
  • CARE common
  • CASE common
  • CATE rare
  • CAVE common
  • CEPE rare
  • COPE common
  • GAPE common
  • JAPE rare
  • NAPE common
  • RAPE common
  • TAPE common

How hard was Poople #380?

By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #380 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #380?

Poople #380 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from CAPE 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 #380?

The starting word for Poople #380 was CAPE, on Saturday, August 29, 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 #380?

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