Poople

Poople #289 Answer: GRAY to POOP

May 30, 2026 · Easy · 5 moves

Full solution

The shortest path from GRAY to POOP takes 5 moves.

Shortest path

GRAYCRAYCRAPCROPPROPPOOP
  1. Step 1GRAYCRAY1st letter, G to C
  2. Step 2CRAYCRAP4th letter, Y to P
  3. Step 3CRAPCROP3rd letter, A to O
  4. Step 4CROPPROP1st letter, C to P
  5. Step 5PROPPOOP2nd letter, R to O
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About this puzzle

Par 5 of 11. Rated Easy.

9 distinct shortest path(s) from GRAY to POOP.

GRAY connects to 11 other valid words.

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

How the routes branch

Right after GRAY, 5 different words keep the route just as short: CRAY, GRAD, GRAM, GREY, PRAY. None of them rejoin the others before POOP.

This ladder from GRAY

Bridge words

GRAY(adjective)
A color between black and white, like ash or lead.
CRAY(adjective)
Crazy, insane, or wild; often used to describe something exciting or extreme.
CRAP(noun)
something of poor quality or value; nonsense; to defecate
CROP(noun)
a cultivated plant, especially a cereal, fruit, or vegetable grown on a farm
PROP(noun)
A support placed under or against something to hold it up.

First moves from GRAY

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

Stays on the shortest path: 4 moves left to POOP.

CRAYGRADGRAMGREYPRAY

Costs one extra move: 6 moves total to POOP.

BRAYFRAYGRABGRANTRAYXRAY

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 #289 answer?

The #289 start word is GRAY. One shortest path to POOP takes 5 moves: GRAY -> CRAY -> CRAP -> CROP -> PROP -> POOP.

Are there many ways to solve today's puzzle from GRAY?

Yes, there are at least 9 distinct shortest solutions for today’s puzzle. These paths show a good variety of first moves, including CRAY, GRAD, GRAM, GREY, and PRAY.

What is the most common first move in the shortest solutions from GRAY?

The first move PRAY appears in four of the nine shortest solutions. This makes it a very popular choice for players aiming for the par of 5 moves.

Are there any first moves from GRAY that are not part of a shortest solution?

Yes, several first moves from GRAY will cost you an extra turn to reach POOP. For example, BRAY, FRAY, GRAB, GRAN, TRAY, and XRAY are all valid first moves but add one extra step to the puzzle.

Do all shortest solutions from GRAY go through the same intermediate words?

No, the solutions diverge significantly after the first step, with different paths forming. For instance, some paths go through GRAD and GOAD, while others use PRAM and PROM.