Puzzle #98 · Nov 20, 2025
Poople #98 Answer: DUCT to POOP
Poople #98 was the puzzle for Thursday, November 20, 2025. The starting word was DUCT, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 6 steps. We found 10 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 #98 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 4th letter of DUCT, the T.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after DUCT starts with D. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with C.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
DUCT → DUCK → DOCK → COCK → COOK → COOP → POOP
6 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DUCT | DUCK | 4th letter T to K |
| 2 | DUCK | DOCK | 2nd letter U to O |
| 3 | DOCK | COCK | 1st letter D to C |
| 4 | COCK | COOK | 3rd letter C to O |
| 5 | COOK | COOP | 4th letter K to P |
| 6 | COOP | POOP | 1st letter C to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from DUCT
Our word list allows 10 shortest ladders from DUCT to POOP, each 6 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 10 paths
- DUCT → DUCK → DOCK → COCK → COOK → COOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUCK → DOCK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUCK → DOCK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUCK → LUCK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUST → DOST → HOST → HOOT → HOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUST → DOST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUST → LUST → LOST → LOOT → LOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUCK → HUCK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUST → DOST → COST → COOT → COOP → POOP
- DUCT → DUST → DOST → POST → POSH → POOH → POOP
Words one letter away from DUCT
These 7 words differ from DUCT 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.
- DUCE rare
- DUCI rare
- DUCK common
- DUET common
- DUIT rare
- DUNT rare
- DUST common
How hard was Poople #98?
By our count it rates Expert: fewest 6 steps. That makes #98 harder than 74% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #97 COZY (Nov 19, 2025)
- Next: #99 SANS (Nov 21, 2025)
- Same difficulty: #67 STUD, #80 STUN, #96 RIDE
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #98?
Poople #98 takes 6 steps. We count the fewest steps from DUCT 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 #98?
The starting word for Poople #98 was DUCT, on Thursday, November 20, 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 Expert. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #98?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with DUCT 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.