LinkedIn CrossClimb #557 Solution – November 8, 2025 – Mastering the Word Ladder Puzzle with Logic

How to Solve LinkedIn CrossClimb #557 – November 8, 2025

LinkedIn CrossClimb is a word ladder puzzle game that challenges players to transform a starting word into a target word by changing exactly one letter at a time, with each step guided by a clue. For Question ID 557, published on November 8, 2025, the journey begins with a strong start and ends by naming two of the classical elements. Here’s how to solve the puzzle step by step, using logic and wordplay.

Starting Point: The Clues

Each clue leads to a word on the ladder. The key is to arrange them in order, ensuring each word differs from the previous by only one letter.

Step-by-Step Solution

➤ Hint 1: Title held by many villains in the “Star Wars” films, including Vader
Answer: DARTH

➤ Hint 2: Objects thrown at a round game board in a bar or tavern
Answer: DARTS
This involves changing one letter in DARTH—specifically, the fourth letter from H to T (DAHT becomes DART, but standard spelling is DARTS—likely, the plural is intended). Sometimes, CrossClimb accepts plurals or slight variations if they logically fit.

➤ Hint 3: Challenges another to complete a risky action
Answer: DARES
Change the second letter from A to E (DARTS → DARES). This step requires careful attention to both meaning and letter position.

➤ Hint 4: Calendar entries, or certain palm tree fruits
Answer: DATES
Change the third letter from R to T (DARES → DATES). This jump fits both the clue and the one-letter-change rule.

➤ Hint 5: A person who regularly goes out for romantic meet-ups
Answer: DATER
Change the last letter from S to R (DATES → DATER). The plural noun becomes a singular noun, which is allowed as long as only one letter changes.

The Compound Question

The final step presents a compound question: Two of the classical elements, alongside air and fire. This requires mapping the word ladder to the elements Earth and Water.

➤ Top Answer: EARTH
The word DATER leads to EARTH by changing the D to E (DATER → EARTH). This is a one-letter change at the start of the word, fulfilling the puzzle’s core rule.

➤ Bottom Answer: WATER
You also need to identify the second classical element, WATER. This is not a step on the ladder from DARTH, but it's the complementary answer to the compound question.

Logical Reasoning

Solving LinkedIn CrossClimb puzzles relies on:
- Reading each clue carefully: Ensure the answer fits both the definition and the word length. - One-letter-change rule: Each step must differ from the previous by only one letter. - Ladder logic: Sometimes the ladder requires moving backward or forward between plural and singular forms, or changing less obvious letters. - Compound clues: Final questions may require recognizing multiple targets or concepts.

Conclusion

LinkedIn CrossClimb #557 is a great example of how word ladders combine trivia, vocabulary, and logical reasoning. By carefully analyzing each clue and respecting the one-letter-change rule, players can climb from DARTH to EARTH and identify WATER as the second classical element.