Puzzle #416 · Oct 4, 2026
Poople #416 Answer: RAFT to POOP
Poople #416 was the puzzle for Sunday, October 4, 2026. The starting word was RAFT, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 6 steps. We found 12 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 #416 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 2nd letter of RAFT, the A.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after RAFT starts with R. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with L.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
RAFT → RIFT → LIFT → LOFT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
6 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAFT | RIFT | 2nd letter A to I |
| 2 | RIFT | LIFT | 1st letter R to L |
| 3 | LIFT | LOFT | 2nd letter I to O |
| 4 | LOFT | LOOT | 3rd letter F to O |
| 5 | LOOT | LOOP | 4th letter T to P |
| 6 | LOOP | POOP | 1st letter L to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from RAFT
Our word list allows 12 shortest ladders from RAFT to POOP, each 6 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 12 paths
- RAFT → RIFT → LIFT → LOFT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- RAFT → RIFT → RIOT → ROOT → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- RAFT → RIFT → RIOT → ROOT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- RAFT → RIFT → RIOT → ROOT → ROOF → POOF → POOP
- RAFT → RIFT → RIOT → ROOT → COOT → COOP → POOP
- RAFT → HAFT → HAST → HOST → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- RAFT → REFT → LEFT → LOFT → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- RAFT → RIFT → RIOT → ROOT → ROOD → POOD → POOP
- RAFT → HAFT → HALT → HOLT → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- RAFT → HAFT → HALT → HOLT → HOLP → HOOP → POOP
- RAFT → RAFF → CAFF → COFF → COOF → COOP → POOP
- RAFT → RAFF → CAFF → COFF → COOF → POOF → POOP
Words one letter away from RAFT
These 8 words differ from RAFT 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.
- DAFT common
- HAFT rare
- RAFF rare
- RANT common
- RAPT common
- REFT rare
- RIFT common
- WAFT common
How hard was Poople #416?
By our count it rates Expert: fewest 6 steps. That makes #416 harder than 74% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #415 TEEN (Oct 3, 2026)
- Next: #417 PAIR (Oct 5, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #399 DUTY, #402 AWAY, #412 GAGE
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #416?
Poople #416 takes 6 steps. We count the fewest steps from RAFT 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 #416?
The starting word for Poople #416 was RAFT, on Sunday, October 4, 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 #416?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with RAFT 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.