Poople Answer: #285 MUTE to POOP
Replay the puzzle first, then reveal one published 6-move route from MUTE to POOP.
- Par
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Level
- #285
Poople answer #285 guide
What is the Poople answer #285?
One published Poople answer #285 is a 6-move route from MUTE to POOP. Try the playable board before comparing your solution with the published route.
Spoiler protected Show Poople answer #285 Hide Poople answer #285
One letter at a time
Poople Answer Path #285 MUTE
MUTE → MULE → MULL → PULL → POLL → POOL → POOP
Step by step
Letter-by-letter path explanation
- MUTE → MULE Change letter 3 from T to L.
- MULE → MULL Change letter 4 from E to L.
- MULL → PULL Change letter 1 from M to P.
- PULL → POLL Change letter 2 from U to O.
- POLL → POOL Change letter 3 from L to O.
- POOL → POOP Change letter 4 from L to P.
| Published | |
|---|---|
| Start word | MUTE |
| Target word | POOP |
| Par | 6 moves |
| Published route | 6 moves |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Computed minimum | 6 moves |
| Computed minimum routes | 18 |
| Final bridge | POOL |
Route logic
Why this Poople route works
The route from MUTE first passes through MULE → MULL → PULL → POLL, using changes across the third, fourth, first and second letter positions on the way to POOP. Each intermediate entry remains a valid four-letter word while only one character changes at a time. The complete published ladder takes 6 moves and matches the recorded par without inserting an extra transition.
A repeatable solving method is to check both ends. From the start, keep letters that open several valid next moves. From POOP, work backward to a likely final bridge, then look for a word that connects your forward and backward chains. This reduces random guesses while you test the playable board.
Solution strategy
Why the bridge word matters
The final bridge is POOL, which differs from POOP only at the fourth position. Replacing L with P preserves the other three letters and finishes Poople #285 in one valid move.
To apply this strategy to another Poople game, work backward from POOP: list its valid one-letter neighbours, then test which candidate connects to the chain you are building from the starting word.
Difficulty notes
How difficult is Poople #285?
Poople #285 scores 37/100 on the PoopleToday Difficulty Index and is rated Medium. The index combines minimum route length, word familiarity and route flexibility. Within Poople Today’s validated word list, the computed minimum is 6 moves. Its easiest computed minimum route contains no intermediate words in the lowest frequency quartile. 18 computed minimum routes were found in this word list.
Source and review
How this Poople answer is checked
Poople Today stores the puzzle number, starting word, par and published route with its source. Automated checks confirm four-letter formatting, the correct start and target, one changed letter per move and agreement between the route length and par. Review the published puzzle source.
The current route status is structure validated. Structural validation confirms that the displayed chain follows the game rules. Separately, the Difficulty Index searches Poople Today’s validated word list for computed minimum routes; that calculation does not prove that no route exists using a word outside this list. Last reviewed .