STARTING-WORD GUIDE

CRAG to POOP.

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

4minimum moves
2shortest routes
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from CRAG.

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

  1. StartCRAGThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1CRAPReplace G with P in position 4
  3. Move 2CROPReplace A with O in position 3
  4. Move 3COOPReplace R with O in position 2
  5. Move 4POOPReplace C with P in position 1
Compare 2 shortest routes
  1. CRAG · CRAP · CROP · COOP · POOP
  2. CRAG · CRAP · CROP · PROP · 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 CRAG: CRAP.

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 4-move minimum.

Next wordMoves remainingTotal via this wordResult
BRAG56Longer route
CRAB45Longer route
CRAM45Longer route
CRAP34Shortest route
CRAW45Longer route
CRAY45Longer route
DRAG56Longer route
FRAG45Longer route

Why 4 moves is the minimum.

CRAG 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 CRAG 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.