LinkedIn CrossClimb #576 Solution - November 27, 2025

Game: LinkedIn CrossClimb | Puzzle ID: #576 | Published: November 27, 2025

Understanding the Puzzle

LinkedIn CrossClimb is a word ladder puzzle where you must climb from a starting word to a target word by changing exactly one letter at each step. Each intermediate word is revealed through clues, and the final compound question provides the top and bottom answers. Today's puzzle challenges you to navigate from GRAVE to TRAIN through a series of five-letter words.

Step-by-Step Solution

Starting Word: GRAVE

Hint 1: A matter of ___ concern (something of serious worry)

The answer is GRAVE. This word completes the phrase "a matter of grave concern," referring to something of serious or significant worry. GRAVE serves as your entry point into the puzzle.

Step 1: GRAVE → GRACE

Hint 2: What some folks say at the dinner table

The answer is GRACE. Many people say grace—a prayer of thanks—before meals at the dinner table. To transition from GRAVE to GRACE, you change the final letter V to C. This demonstrates the core mechanic: only one letter changes between consecutive words.

Step 2: GRACE → TRACE

Hint 3: Use thin paper to outline a drawing

The answer is TRACE. When artists use thin paper placed over a drawing and outline it, they create a trace. Moving from GRACE to TRACE, you swap the first letter G with T. The remaining letters (RACE) stay identical.

Step 3: TRACE → TRACT

Hint 4: Land area divided by government lines

The answer is TRACT. A tract refers to a piece of land, often divided by government boundaries or property lines. From TRACE to TRACT, you change the fourth letter E to C. Notice how the word ladder maintains structural integrity while building toward the solution.

Step 4: TRACT → TRAIT

Hint 5: Characteristic of a person (for example, something describing their personality)

The answer is TRAIT. A trait is a distinguishing characteristic or quality of a person, such as kindness, intelligence, or humor. The final transition from TRACT to TRAIT involves changing the second letter C to I, bringing you to the penultimate word.

Final Compound Question

A two-word phrase for a situation that gets you easy money

The answer is GRAVY TRAIN. This two-word phrase describes a situation or opportunity that provides easy financial gain with minimal effort. Notice how the puzzle connects back to your starting word GRAVE (or rather GRAVY) and leads to the final destination TRAIN. The compound question ties the entire puzzle together by combining the first and last words into a meaningful phrase.

Puzzle Summary: Word Ladder

Here's your complete path through the CrossClimb:

GRAVE (Start)
  ↓
GRACE (Change V → C)
  ↓
TRACE (Change G → T)
  ↓
TRACT (Change E → C)
  ↓
TRAIT (Change C → I)
  ↓
GRAVY TRAIN (Compound Answer)

Tips for Solving CrossClimb Puzzles

Focus on One-Letter Changes: Always verify that only a single letter differs between consecutive words. This constraint is fundamental to the puzzle's design.

Use Clue Context: Read each clue carefully for context clues that might hint at the correct word. Phrases like "at the dinner table" clearly point to GRACE.

Check Letter Positions: Keep track of which letter position changes at each step. This helps you verify your solution is valid.

Understand Compound Questions: The final two-word phrase often incorporates words from earlier in the ladder or creates meaningful connections. In this case, GRAVY TRAIN cleverly uses GRAVY (similar to GRAVE) and TRAIN (your destination).

Conclusion

LinkedIn CrossClimb #576 demonstrates how word puzzles can blend vocabulary knowledge with logical reasoning. By following the clues methodically and adhering to the one-letter-change rule, you successfully climbed from GRAVE through five intermediate words to reach TRAIN. The puzzle's elegant conclusion with "GRAVY TRAIN" shows how these word games connect seemingly disparate words into meaningful phrases. Practice these strategies daily to improve your CrossClimb solving skills and enjoy LinkedIn's engaging puzzle collection.