Puzzle #97 · Nov 19, 2025

Poople #97 Answer: COZY to POOP

Poople #97 was the puzzle for Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The starting word was COZY, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 24 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 #97 hints

Hint 1: Which letter changes first

The first move changes the 3rd letter of COZY, the Z.

Hint 2: The next word starts with …

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

Hint 3: Show me the full ladder

COZY → COPY → 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
1COZYCOPY3rd letter Z to P
2COPYCOPS4th letter Y to S
3COPSCOOS3rd letter P to O
4COOSCOOP4th letter S to P
5COOPPOOP1st letter C to P
Play this puzzle

All shortest paths from COZY

Our word list allows 24 shortest ladders from COZY to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.

Show all 24 paths
  1. COZY → COPY → COPS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  2. COZY → CONY → CONS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  3. COZY → CORY → CORK → COOK → COOP → POOP
  4. COZY → COWY → COWS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  5. COZY → COLY → COLT → COOT → COOP → POOP
  6. COZY → COLY → HOLY → HOLP → HOOP → POOP
  7. COZY → COLY → COLS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  8. COZY → COLY → POLY → POLL → POOL → POOP
  9. COZY → CONY → PONY → POND → POOD → POOP
  10. COZY → CONY → CONK → COOK → COOP → POOP
  11. COZY → CORY → CORN → COON → COOP → POOP
  12. COZY → COSY → COST → COOT → COOP → POOP
  13. COZY → COSY → COSS → COOS → COOP → POOP
  14. COZY → COWY → COWL → COOL → COOP → POOP
  15. COZY → COWY → COWL → COOL → POOL → POOP
  16. COZY → CONY → CONN → COON → COOP → POOP
  17. COZY → CORY → CORN → COON → POON → POOP
  18. COZY → CORY → CORN → PORN → POON → POOP
  19. COZY → CORY → GORY → GORP → GOOP → POOP
  20. COZY → CORY → CORF → COOF → COOP → POOP
  21. COZY → COSY → POSY → POSH → POOH → POOP
  22. COZY → CONY → CONN → COON → POON → POOP
  23. COZY → CORY → CORF → COOF → POOF → POOP
  24. COZY → COSY → COSH → POSH → POOH → POOP

Words one letter away from COZY

These 9 words differ from COZY 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.

  • COLY rare
  • CONY rare
  • COPY common
  • CORY rare
  • COSY rare
  • COWY rare
  • DOZY rare
  • FOZY rare
  • OOZY rare

How hard was Poople #97?

By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #97 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.

More Poople puzzles

How many steps is Poople #97?

Poople #97 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from COZY 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 #97?

The starting word for Poople #97 was COZY, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. 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 #97?

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