STARTING-WORD GUIDE

CLOG to POOP.

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

3minimum moves
2shortest routes
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from CLOG.

CLOG reaches POOP in 3 moves. The list includes 4 words because the starting position costs no move.

  1. StartCLOGThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1CLOPReplace G with P in position 4
  3. Move 2COOPReplace L with O in position 2
  4. Move 3POOPReplace C with P in position 1
Compare 2 shortest routes
  1. CLOG · CLOP · COOP · POOP
  2. CLOG · CLOP · PLOP · POOP

This list contains every shortest route in the checked word list.

Which first moves work?

One next word keeps you on a shortest route from CLOG: CLOP.

The table lists all 8 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 3-move minimum.

Next wordMoves remainingTotal via this wordResult
BLOG45Longer route
CLOD34Longer route
CLOP23Shortest route
CLOT34Longer route
CLOY34Longer route
FLOG34Longer route
SLOG34Longer route
VLOG45Longer route

Why 3 moves is the minimum.

CLOG differs from POOP in 3 letter positions, so any route needs at least 3 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 CLOG with a different target or read the verification method.

More 3-move ladders.

These starting words have the same shortest distance to POOP in the checked list.