Puzzle #396 · Sep 14, 2026

Poople #396 Answer: CARS to POOP

Poople #396 was the puzzle for Monday, September 14, 2026. The starting word was CARS, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 17 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 #396 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 3rd letter of CARS, the R.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

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

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

CARS → CABS → COBS → 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
1CARSCABS3rd letter R to B
2CABSCOBS2nd letter A to O
3COBSCOOS3rd letter B to O
4COOSCOOP4th letter S to P
5COOPPOOP1st letter C to P
Play this puzzle

All shortest paths from CARS

Our word list allows 17 shortest ladders from CARS to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 17 paths
  1. CARS → CABS → COBS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  2. CARS → CANS → CONS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  3. CARS → CAPS → COPS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  4. CARS → CATS → COTS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  5. CARS → CAWS → COWS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  6. CARS → CARP → CAMP → COMP → COOP → POOP
  7. CARS → CARP → CAMP → COMP → POMP → POOP
  8. CARS → CADS → CODS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  9. CARS → CARK → CORK → COOK → COOP → POOP
  10. CARS → PARS → PAMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
  11. CARS → CAMS → CAMP → COMP → COOP → POOP
  12. CARS → CAMS → CAMP → COMP → POMP → POOP
  13. CARS → CARN → CORN → COON → COOP → POOP
  14. CARS → CAYS → COYS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  15. CARS → CAMS → PAMS → POMS → POMP → POOP
  16. CARS → CARN → CORN → COON → POON → POOP
  17. CARS → CARN → CORN → PORN → POON → POOP

Words one letter away from CARS

These 29 words differ from CARS 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.

  • BARS common
  • CABS common
  • CADS rare
  • CAMS rare
  • CANS common
  • CAPS common
  • CARB rare
  • CARD common
  • CARE common
  • CARK rare
  • CARL rare
  • CARN rare
  • CARP common
  • CARR rare
  • CART common
  • CATS common
  • CAWS common
  • CAYS rare
  • CURS rare
  • EARS common
  • GARS rare
  • JARS common
  • LARS rare
  • MARS common
  • OARS common
  • PARS common
  • TARS common
  • VARS rare
  • WARS common

How hard was Poople #396?

By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #396 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #396?

Poople #396 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from CARS 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 #396?

The starting word for Poople #396 was CARS, on Monday, September 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 Hard. Hints for it are at the top of this page.

Can I replay Poople #396?

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