STARTING-WORD GUIDE

CAMI to POOP.

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

4minimum moves
2shortest routes
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from CAMI.

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

  1. StartCAMIThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1CAMPReplace I with P in position 4
  3. Move 2COMPReplace A with O in position 2
  4. Move 3COOPReplace M with O in position 3
  5. Move 4POOPReplace C with P in position 1
Compare 2 shortest routes
  1. CAMI · CAMP · COMP · COOP · POOP
  2. CAMI · CAMP · COMP · POMP · POOP

This list contains every shortest route in the checked word list.

Which first moves work?

One next word keeps you on a shortest route from CAMI: CAMP.

The table lists all 5 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
CAME45Longer route
CAMO45Longer route
CAMP34Shortest route
CAMS45Longer route
RAMI45Longer route

Why 4 moves is the minimum.

CAMI 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 CAMI 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.