Shortest verified route
9 moves OMEN OPEN OPES OPTS OUTS CUTS COTS COOS COOP POOP
Full route OMEN -> OPEN -> OPES -> OPTS -> OUTS -> CUTS -> COTS -> COOS -> COOP -> POOP
Step by step
Changed letter OMEN
Starting word - Step 1 OPEN
Change letter 2: M to P
- Step 2 OPES
Change letter 4: N to S
- Step 3 OPTS
Change letter 3: E to T
- Step 4 OUTS
Change letter 2: P to U
- Step 5 CUTS
Change letter 1: O to C
- Step 6 COTS
Change letter 2: U to O
- Step 7 COOS
Change letter 3: T to O
- Step 8 COOP
Change letter 4: S to P
- Step 9 POOP
Change letter 1: C to P
Target reached
Verification & puzzle details
Every adjacent pair changes exactly one letter. This is one shortest route; other routes can be equally short. The starting word is not a move: 10 words make 9 changes.
Solution summary
- Start
- OMEN
- Target
- POOP
- Shortest path
- OMEN -> OPEN -> OPES -> OPTS -> OUTS -> CUTS -> COTS -> COOS -> COOP -> POOP
- Puzzle date
- Thursday, October 8, 2026