LinkedIn CrossClimb #625 Solution: Complete Word Ladder Guide

Game: LinkedIn CrossClimb | Puzzle ID: 625 | Published: January 15, 2026

Understanding the CrossClimb Challenge

LinkedIn CrossClimb is a word puzzle game that combines trivia with word ladder logic. Players must answer clues to find intermediate words, then arrange them so each word differs by exactly one letter from the previous word. The puzzle is solved when you create a valid chain connecting the starting word to the target word.

Step-by-Step Solution Breakdown

Step 1: WATER (Starting Word)

Your journey begins with the word WATER, the foundational word in this puzzle. This serves as your launching point for the word ladder.

Step 2: WATER → LATER

Clue: The opposite of sooner
Answer: LATER

Transform WATER to LATER by changing the W to L. LATER perfectly answers the clue as it describes something that happens after the current time—the opposite of sooner. This is your first one-letter change in the word ladder.

Step 3: LATER → LITER

Clue: Metric unit of volume
Answer: LITER

Change the A in LATER to I to create LITER. A liter is the standard metric measurement for liquid volume, commonly used worldwide. This clue tests your knowledge of metric measurements.

Step 4: LITER → LINER

Clue: With "ocean", type of large passenger ship that used to make regular trips between continents
Answer: LINER

Replace the T in LITER with N to spell LINER. An "ocean liner" refers to the luxurious passenger ships that once dominated transatlantic travel. This compound clue requires you to recognize that LINER combines with "ocean" to form the complete maritime term.

Step 5: LINER → LONER

Clue: Solitary person
Answer: LONER

Change the I in LINER to O to get LONER. A loner is someone who prefers to be alone or avoids social interaction. This straightforward clue describes a personality type.

Step 6: LONER → LOWER

Clue: Bring down
Answer: LOWER

Transform LONER to LOWER by changing the N to W. LOWER is a verb meaning to reduce in height, position, or intensity—essentially to bring something down.

Step 7: LOWER → TOWER (Final Word)

Change the L in LOWER to T to reach TOWER, your final destination in the word ladder.

Solving the Compound Question

Clue: A two-word phrase for a large receptacle near a city's reservoir
Top Answer: WATER
Bottom Answer: TOWER

The compound question reveals the elegant design of this CrossClimb puzzle. The two-word phrase WATER TOWER perfectly describes the large cylindrical structures used to store and distribute water in cities and towns. The water tower sits near or connects to the city's water reservoir, making it an essential infrastructure element.

Notice how the puzzle creates a complete word ladder from the starting word WATER through five intermediate words, all leading to TOWER. When combined, "WATER TOWER" answers the final compound clue, demonstrating the clever interconnection between all puzzle elements.

Key Strategies for Solving CrossClimb Puzzles

• Think of synonyms: If a clue seems ambiguous, consider alternative words with the same meaning that fit the letter count.
• Focus on vowel changes: Many word ladder transitions work by swapping vowels, so try A→E, E→I, O→U combinations first.
• Work with common words: CrossClimb puzzles typically use everyday vocabulary rather than obscure terms, making them accessible to general audiences.
• Verify the one-letter rule: Always confirm that each step changes exactly one letter—no more, no less.
• Use hints strategically: If you're stuck, use the hint feature to identify which word in your ladder is incorrect.

Why This Puzzle Works

This particular CrossClimb demonstrates excellent puzzle design by using thematic consistency. The journey from WATER through LATER, LITER, LINER, LONER, and LOWER all connect naturally in meaning while maintaining the strict one-letter-change requirement. The final compound question ties everything together, revealing that the entire word ladder was designed to illustrate the relationship between WATER and TOWER—two words that belong together conceptually and form a recognizable two-word phrase.

By mastering this puzzle, you've practiced essential CrossClimb skills: solving clues, finding letter patterns, maintaining dictionary validity, and recognizing how intermediate words connect to form the complete solution.