LinkedIn CrossClimb #653 Solution Guide

Game: LinkedIn CrossClimb | Puzzle ID: 653 | Published: February 12, 2026

Understanding the CrossClimb Word Ladder Game

CrossClimb is a word puzzle game where you build a ladder of words with a single constraint: each word differs from the previous one by exactly one letter. This puzzle challenges you to connect clues with logical word transformations while maintaining letter positions.

Step-by-Step Solution Breakdown

Hint 1: Escape ___ (a place to stay for an hour, or less if you are smart?)

Answer: ROOM

The clue hints at "Escape Room," a popular entertainment experience where players solve puzzles within a confined space. This is your starting word in the ladder.

Hint 2: Wander

Answer: ROAM

From ROOM to ROAM, you change the second "O" to an "A." ROAM is a synonym for wander or travel aimlessly. This transformation demonstrates the one-letter-change rule perfectly.

Hint 3: Substance out of which a barista might make "latte art"

Answer: FOAM

Transitioning from ROAM to FOAM, you replace the "R" with an "F." Foam is the frothy milk that baristas use to create decorative latte art on coffee beverages.

Hint 4: Piece of paperwork to fill out

Answer: FORM

From FOAM to FORM, you change the last letter from "M" to "M"—wait, that's incorrect. Actually, you replace the "A" with an "R." A form is any official document or paperwork that requires completion.

Hint 5: "The early bird catches the ___"

Answer: WORM

Moving from FORM to WORM, you replace the "F" with a "W." This completes the classic proverb about early risers getting the first advantage.

The Compound Question: The Final Challenge

Clue: A two-part phrase for a unit of speech that carries its core meaning and cannot be further reduced into smaller parts.

Top Answer: ROOT
Bottom Answer: WORD

This final challenge asks you to identify a linguistic term using two words that connect through single-letter changes. The answer is "ROOT WORD," a grammatical concept referring to the base form of a word from which other words are derived.

ROOT comes from changing the "W" in WORM to an "R." WORD comes from changing the "O" in ROOT to an "O"—maintaining the connection through single-letter transformations.

Why This Puzzle Works

CrossClimb puzzles like #653 blend vocabulary knowledge with logical reasoning. Each hint guides you to the correct word, while the one-letter-change constraint forces you to think creatively about which letters to modify. The compound question ties everything together by revealing how individual words can form meaningful phrases.

Pro Tips for Solving CrossClimb

• Start by solving all five clues without worrying about the ladder sequence
• Arrange words alphabetically or by letter patterns to identify possible connections
• Test your ladder by reading it aloud to ensure each transformation makes sense
• The compound question often relates thematically to the puzzle's words
• Remember that the first word of the compound answer might appear at the bottom of your ladder

Ready to tackle more LinkedIn word puzzles? Master the CrossClimb game mechanics and challenge yourself daily with new word transformations and linguistic connections.