STARTING-WORD GUIDE

BEGS to POOP.

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

4minimum moves
1shortest route
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from BEGS.

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

  1. StartBEGSThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1BOGSReplace E with O in position 2
  3. Move 2BOOSReplace G with O in position 3
  4. Move 3BOOPReplace S with P in position 4
  5. Move 4POOPReplace B with P in position 1

There is exactly one shortest route in this checked word list.

Which first moves work?

One next word keeps you on a shortest route from BEGS: BOGS.

The table lists all 10 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
BAGS45Longer route
BEDS45Longer route
BEES56Longer route
BETS45Longer route
BOGS34Shortest route
BUGS45Longer route
KEGS56Longer route
LEGS56Longer route
PEGS56Longer route
REGS56Longer route

Why 4 moves is the minimum.

BEGS 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 BEGS 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.