STARTING-WORD GUIDE

BIBS to POOP.

A reusable word-ladder guide, rather than a dated daily puzzle. Every move below changes exactly one letter.

4minimum moves
1shortest route
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from BIBS.

BIBS reaches POOP in 4 moves. The list includes 5 words because the starting position costs no move.

  1. StartBIBSThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1BOBSReplace I with O in position 2
  3. Move 2BOOSReplace B with O in position 3
  4. Move 3BOOPReplace S with P in position 4
  5. Move 4POOPReplace B with P in position 1

There is exactly one shortest route in this checked word list.

Which first moves work?

One next word keeps you on a shortest route from BIBS: BOBS.

The table lists all 12 accepted one-letter neighbors. “Moves remaining” starts after that first move. “Total via this word” includes it, so you can compare that choice with the 4-move minimum.

Next wordMoves remainingTotal via this wordResult
BIAS45Longer route
BIDS45Longer route
BINS56Longer route
BITS45Longer route
BOBS34Shortest route
BUBS45Longer route
DIBS56Longer route
FIBS56Longer route
GIBS56Longer route
LIBS56Longer route
NIBS56Longer route
RIBS56Longer route

Why 4 moves is the minimum.

BIBS differs from POOP in 4 letter positions, so any route needs at least 4 changes. This route meets that lower bound.

The solver searches the checked word graph in distance order. It reaches every word one move away before trying two moves, then continues until it reaches POOP. The minimum applies to this word list; another game or dictionary may accept different connections.

Our Easy label uses distance only: up to 5 moves is Easy, 6 is Moderate, 7 is Tricky, 8 is Hard, and 9 or more is Expert. It does not measure how familiar you will find each word.

Try BIBS with a different target or read the verification method.

More 4-move ladders.

These starting words have the same shortest distance to POOP in the checked list.