STARTING-WORD GUIDE

BOOP to POOP.

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

1minimum moves

1shortest route

Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from BOOP.

BOOP reaches POOP in 1 moves. The list includes 2 words because the starting position costs no move.

StartBOOPThe starting word; no move used
Move 1POOPReplace 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 BOOP: POOP.

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 1-move minimum.

Next word	Moves remaining	Total via this word	Result
BOOB	2	3	Longer route
BOOK	2	3	Longer route
BOOM	2	3	Longer route
BOON	2	3	Longer route
BOOR	2	3	Longer route
BOOS	2	3	Longer route
BOOT	2	3	Longer route
COOP	1	2	Longer route
GOOP	1	2	Longer route
HOOP	1	2	Longer route
LOOP	1	2	Longer route
POOP	0	1	Shortest route

Why 1 moves is the minimum.

BOOP differs from POOP in 1 letter position, so any route needs at least 1 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 BOOP with a different target or read the verification method.

More 1-move ladders.

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

COOP 1 moves