Poople #390 — September 8, 2026 (NEWS)
Start word NEWS · Par 6 · Medium
Three hints, one at a time
Show the par
The shortest route takes 6 steps.
Show a positional tip
Start by changing letter 1, counting from the left.
Show the first bridge word
MEWS
Full path
- Start Starting word
- 01 Letter 1: N → M
- 02 Letter 2: E → O
- 03 Letter 1: M → B
- 04 Letter 3: W → O
- 05 Letter 4: S → P
- 06 Letter 1: B → P
6 steps
The first step has 8 legal moves; 4 keep a shortest route to POOP.
Breadth-first search checks shorter distances before reaching POOP. A separate search verifies the minimum using the same accepted vocabulary. Every move changes one letter. Our word list may differ from the official game, so its shortest route may differ too.
Some puzzles have several equally short routes. We show the one our BFS returns, using a fixed alphabetical tie-break.
Bridge words
- MEWS
- noun. A lane or courtyard originally lined with stables.
- MOWS
- verb. Cuts grass or crops; third-person singular of mow.
- BOWS
- noun. Curved weapons that fire arrows using a taut string; plural of bow.
- BOOS
- noun. Shouts expressing disapproval.
- BOOP
- verb. To give someone or something a brief, light touch.