LinkedIn CrossClimb #658 Solution: Step-by-Step Guide

Master today's LinkedIn CrossClimb puzzle with this complete walkthrough. CrossClimb challenges you to solve clues for five words, arrange them into a ladder where each step changes exactly one letter, and then tackle the final compound clue for the top and bottom words. Perfect for word game fans seeking daily CrossClimb answers and strategies.

Phase 1: Solving the Five Clues

In the first phase, uncover the five core words using the provided hints. Each word is four letters long, a key pattern in CrossClimb puzzles. Here's the breakdown:

• Hint 1: Another name for an elevator, particularly in British English
  The word is LIFT. In British English, "lift" refers to what Americans call an elevator—a device for vertical transport in buildings.
• Hint 2: A matter of ___ and death
  This fills the classic phrase "a matter of LIFE and death," meaning something critically important where survival hangs in the balance.
• Hint 3: A straight path connecting two points
  The answer is LINE. In geometry and everyday use, a line is the shortest, straight connection between two points.
• Hint 4: Part of a running track to which a sprinter is assigned
  Sprinters run in their designated LANE, a marked section of the track to ensure fair racing.
• Hint 5: Touchdown at an airport
  Planes make a LANDing upon arriving at the runway—your touchdown for safe arrival.

With words in hand—LIFT, LIFE, LINE, LANE, LAND—move to arranging them.

Phase 2: Building the Word Ladder

Drag the words using the = symbols to form a vertical ladder. Each consecutive word must differ by exactly one letter, maintaining the same length and positions. Test sequences logically:

LIFT
LIFE
LINE
LANE
LAND

Verify the changes:

• LIFT → LIFE: F to F (same), I to I (same), F to F (same), T to E (one change).
• LIFE → LINE: F to N (one change), others same.
• LINE → LANE: I to A (one change), others same.
• LANE → LAND: E to D (one change), others same.

This perfect ladder unlocks Phase 3. Pro tip: Start with obvious connections like shared prefixes (all start with L) to speed up rearrangement.

Phase 3: The Compound Question

Now solve: A two-word phrase that describes something that approximately 10% of people use to write.

Extend the ladder top and bottom, changing one letter from LIFT and LAND respectively. The solution is the phrase LEFT HAND:

LEFT
LIFT
LIFE
LINE
LANE
LAND
HAND

Reasoning:

• LIFT → LEFT: I to E (one change).
• LAND → HAND: L to H (one change).
• About 10% of people are left-handed, using their left hand to write—a common stat in handedness studies.

This fits CrossClimb's pattern where top/bottom words form related phrases, like compound terms.

Tips for Future CrossClimb Puzzles

• Solve easiest clues first to anchor the ladder.
• Focus on one-letter swaps: Change one position at a time.
• Compound clues often describe stats, idioms, or pairs (e.g., body parts, opposites).
• All words share length—use this to filter guesses.

Congrats on solving LinkedIn CrossClimb #658! Bookmark for daily CrossClimb solutions, including LinkedIn games like Queens and Pinpoint. Share your ladder time in comments.