Poople #185 Answer: TICS to POOP
February 15, 2026 · Medium · 6 moves
Full solution
The shortest path from TICS to POOP takes 6 moves.
Shortest path
- Step 1TICSTINS3rd letter, C to N
- Step 2TINSTONS2nd letter, I to O
- Step 3TONSCONS1st letter, T to C
- Step 4CONSCOOS3rd letter, N to O
- Step 5COOSCOOP4th letter, S to P
- Step 6COOPPOOP1st letter, C to P
Just want a hint?
About this puzzle
Par 6 of 11. Rated Medium.
17 distinct shortest path(s) from TICS to POOP.
TICS connects to 8 other valid words.
The shortest routes split after move 1 and never agree again before POOP.
Harder than #186 (LAIR, par 5) by 1 move(s). #186 LAIR
How the routes branch
Right after TICS, 4 different words keep the route just as short: TICK, TINS, TIPS, TITS. None of them rejoin the others before POOP.
This ladder from TICS to POOP is a real tongue-twister. The bridge word "CONS" is quite a pivot point.
Bridge words
- TICS(noun)
- sudden, repetitive, nonrhythmic movements or sounds
- TINS(noun)
- metallic containers, typically for food or drink
- TONS(noun)
- a unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds or 20 long hundredweight
- CONS(noun)
- arguments or considerations against something; disadvantages
- COOS(verb)
- makes a soft murmuring sound like a dove
- COOP(noun)
- A cage or enclosure for confining chickens or other small animals.
First moves from TICS
TICS has 8 legal first moves. 4 of them stay on a shortest path to POOP.
Stays on the shortest path: 5 moves left to POOP.
Costs one extra move: 7 moves total to POOP.
Stuck on a different word?
Enter your current 4-letter word for the shortest path to POOP.
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Play todayFAQ
What is the Poople #185 answer?
The #185 start word is TICS. One shortest path to POOP takes 6 moves: TICS -> TINS -> TONS -> CONS -> COOS -> COOP -> POOP.
The puzzle states that TICS has 8 valid neighbors. Why are only 4 of them listed as being on track to reach POOP in 5 more moves?
Only four of TICS’s neighbors—TICK, TINS, TIPS, and TITS—lead to the shortest path to POOP. The other four neighbors, MICS, PICS, SICS, and TIES, are still valid moves but will cost an extra turn to reach POOP.
The editorial note mentions CONS as a pivot point. How many solutions pass through CONS?
Only one of the 17 shortest solutions passes through CONS. This path is TICS -> TINS -> TONS -> CONS -> COOS -> COOP -> POOP. While it is a valid bridge word, it is not frequently used in the shortest paths.
There are 17 shortest solutions for TICS to POOP. What is the most common second word in these solutions?
TICK is by far the most common second word, appearing in 13 of the 17 shortest solutions. The other second words are TITS, TIPS, and TINS, each appearing in fewer solutions.
What is the shortest path that uses the word COOP?
There are multiple shortest paths that use the word COOP. For example, TICS -> TICK -> TOCK -> TOOK -> COOK -> COOP -> POOP is one such path. Another is TICS -> TINS -> TONS -> CONS -> COOS -> COOP -> POOP.