DEAL to POOP.
A reusable word-ladder guide, rather than a dated daily puzzle. Every move below changes exactly one letter.
A shortest path from DEAL.
DEAL reaches POOP in 5 moves. The list includes 6 words because the starting position costs no move.
- StartDEALThe starting word; no move used
- Move 1DELLReplace A with L in position 3
- Move 2DOLLReplace E with O in position 2
- Move 3POLLReplace D with P in position 1
- Move 4POOLReplace L with O in position 3
- Move 5POOPReplace L with P in position 4
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 DEAL: DELL.
The table lists all 16 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 5-move minimum.
| Next word | Moves remaining | Total via this word | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEAD | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| DEAF | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| DEAN | 5 | 6 | Longer route |
| DEAR | 5 | 6 | Longer route |
| DELL | 4 | 5 | Shortest route |
| DIAL | 5 | 6 | Longer route |
| DUAL | 5 | 6 | Longer route |
| HEAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| MEAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| PEAL | 5 | 6 | Longer route |
| REAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| SEAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| TEAL | 5 | 6 | Longer route |
| VEAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| WEAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
| ZEAL | 6 | 7 | Longer route |
Why 5 moves is the minimum.
DEAL differs from POOP in 4 letter positions, so any route needs at least 4 changes. The accepted intermediate words require a longer route: the first complete connection in our search occurs at 5 moves.
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 DEAL with a different target or read the verification method.
More 5-move ladders.
These starting words have the same shortest distance to POOP in the checked list.