Poople

Poople #266 Answer: MUSK to POOP

May 7, 2026 · Medium · 6 moves

Full solution

The shortest path from MUSK to POOP takes 6 moves.

Shortest path

MUSKBUSKBUCKBOCKBOOKBOOPPOOP
  1. Step 1MUSKBUSK1st letter, M to B
  2. Step 2BUSKBUCK3rd letter, S to C
  3. Step 3BUCKBOCK2nd letter, U to O
  4. Step 4BOCKBOOK3rd letter, C to O
  5. Step 5BOOKBOOP4th letter, K to P
  6. Step 6BOOPPOOP1st letter, B to P
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About this puzzle

Par 6 of 11. Rated Medium.

20 or more distinct shortest paths from MUSK to POOP.

MUSK connects to 11 other valid words.

The shortest routes split after move 1 and never agree again before POOP.

Harder than #265 (DULY, par 5) by 1 move(s). #265 DULY

How the routes branch

Right after MUSK, 4 different words keep the route just as short: HUSK, MUCK, MUSS, MUST. None of them rejoin the others before POOP.(Based on the 20+ shortest routes we found; more may exist.)

From "musk" to "poop," this ladder takes a delightful detour through the surprising "bock." It's a neat descent from a scent to a sound.

Bridge words

MUSK(noun)
A pungent, aromatic substance secreted by an animal or produced synthetically.
BUSK(verb)
perform music or other entertainment in a public place for donations
BUCK(noun)
A male deer, or a sudden jump made by a horse.
BOCK(noun)
A strong dark German lager traditionally brewed for spring.
BOOK(noun)
A set of printed pages bound together for reading.
BOOP(noun)
A gentle playful tap, especially on the nose.

First moves from MUSK

MUSK has 11 legal first moves. 5 of them stay on a shortest path to POOP.

Stays on the shortest path: 5 moves left to POOP.

BUSKHUSKMUCKMUSSMUST

Costs one extra move: 7 moves total to POOP.

DUSKMASKMUSEMUSHRUSKTUSK

Stuck on a different word?

Enter your current 4-letter word for the shortest path to POOP.

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FAQ

What is the Poople #266 answer?

The #266 start word is MUSK. One shortest path to POOP takes 6 moves: MUSK -> BUSK -> BUCK -> BOCK -> BOOK -> BOOP -> POOP.

How many solutions are there to get from MUSK to POOP?

There are at least 20 distinct shortest solutions to turn MUSK into POOP. All of these solutions are 6 moves long, matching the par for this puzzle. The true count may be higher, as the provided list is capped.

What are the best first moves from MUSK?

The best first moves from MUSK are BUSK, HUSK, MUCK, MUSS, and MUST. Each of these moves allows you to reach POOP in 5 additional steps, for a total of 6 moves. Other valid first moves from MUSK, such as DUSK or MASK, will cost you an extra turn.

Are there any words that appear in every solution path from MUSK to POOP?

No, there are no words other than the start word MUSK and the target word POOP that appear in every solution path. The solutions branch out immediately from MUSK through various first moves like HUSK, MUCK, MUSS, and MUST. These paths then converge at POOP through different sequences of words.

Does MUSK have many possible first moves?

Yes, MUSK has a relatively high number of valid first moves, with 11 different neighbors. Five of these neighbors lead to a shortest solution, while the other six will add an extra move to your path. This gives players many options right from the start.