LinkedIn Crossclimb #780

LinkedIn Crossclimb #780 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for June 19, 2026. Crossclimb is LinkedIn's word-ladder game: solve 5 middle crossword clues, order the rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter, then unlock the top and bottom combo words. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from HUGE to VAST:

HUGE → HUGS → PUGS → PUSS → PASS → PAST → VAST

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “The words to describe something of extremely great size or scope.”

1. Middle 1Clue 1

   HUGS

   Embraces in one's arms

   Clue insight

   "Embraces in one's arms" resolves to "HUGS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 1: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

2. Middle 2Clue 2

   PUGS

   Dogs with wrinkly, flat faces

   Clue insight

   "Dogs with wrinkly, flat faces" resolves to "PUGS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 2: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

3. Middle 3Clue 3

   PUSS

   "____ in Boots" (fairy tale with an anthropomorphic cat)

   Clue insight

   Fill-in style clue — "PUSS" completes the pattern described in ""____ in Boots" (fairy tale with an anthropomorphic cat)".

   Solving note

   Clue 3: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

4. Middle 4Clue 4

   PASS

   Do well enough to clear an examination in school

   Clue insight

   "Do well enough to clear an examination in school" resolves to "PASS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 4: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

5. Middle 5Clue 5

   PAST

   Future's opposite

   Clue insight

   "Future's opposite" resolves to "PAST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 5: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

1. HUGE → HUGSStep 1

   E→S at the fourth letter (HUGE → HUGS)

   HUGE and HUGS are adjacent in the solved ladder — E→S at the fourth letter (HUGE → HUGS).

   Step 1: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; this step touches a combo end.

2. HUGS → PUGSStep 2

   H→P at the first letter (HUGS → PUGS)

   HUGS and PUGS are adjacent in the solved ladder — H→P at the first letter (HUGS → PUGS).

   Step 2: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

3. PUGS → PUSSStep 3

   G→S at the third letter (PUGS → PUSS)

   PUGS and PUSS are adjacent in the solved ladder — G→S at the third letter (PUGS → PUSS).

   Step 3: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

4. PUSS → PASSStep 4

   U→A at the second letter (PUSS → PASS)

   PUSS and PASS are adjacent in the solved ladder — U→A at the second letter (PUSS → PASS).

   Step 4: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

5. PASS → PASTStep 5

   S→T at the fourth letter (PASS → PAST)

   PASS and PAST are adjacent in the solved ladder — S→T at the fourth letter (PASS → PAST).

   Step 5: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

6. PAST → VASTStep 6

   P→V at the first letter (PAST → VAST)

   PAST and VAST are adjacent in the solved ladder — P→V at the first letter (PAST → VAST).

   Step 6: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; this step touches a combo end.

After solving middles (HUGS, PUGS, PUSS, PASS, PAST), only the order HUGS → PUGS → PUSS → PASS → PAST satisfies the one-letter rule between every adjacent pair. Each step changes exactly one letter: E→S at the fourth letter (HUGE → HUGS); H→P at the first letter (HUGS → PUGS); G→S at the third letter (PUGS → PUSS); U→A at the second letter (PUSS → PASS); S→T at the fourth letter (PASS → PAST); P→V at the first letter (PAST → VAST). Wrong permutations fail when two middles differ by two or more letters.

The combo clue "The words to describe something of extremely great size or scope." describes both end words together — "HUGE" and "VAST" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Top "HUGE" connects to HUGS via E→S at the fourth letter (HUGE → HUGS). Bottom "VAST" connects from PAST via P→V at the first letter (PAST → VAST).

The combo clue "The words to describe something of extremely great size or scope." describes both end words together — "HUGE" and "VAST" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.

Phase 1: Solve the 5 middle crossword clues to unlock HUGS, PUGS, PUSS, PASS, PAST. Middle 1: "Embraces in one's arms" → HUGS. "Embraces in one's arms" resolves to "HUGS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Dogs with wrinkly, flat faces" → PUGS. "Dogs with wrinkly, flat faces" resolves to "PUGS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: ""____ in Boots" (fairy tale with an anthropomorphic cat)" → PUSS. Fill-in style clue — "PUSS" completes the pattern described in ""____ in Boots" (fairy tale with an anthropomorphic cat)". Middle 4: "Do well enough to clear an examination in school" → PASS. "Do well enough to clear an examination in school" resolves to "PASS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Future's opposite" → PAST. "Future's opposite" resolves to "PAST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Phase 2: Order the middle rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter — valid chain: HUGS → PUGS → PUSS → PASS → PAST. Ladder step: E→S at the fourth letter (HUGE → HUGS) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: H→P at the first letter (HUGS → PUGS). Ladder step: G→S at the third letter (PUGS → PUSS). Ladder step: U→A at the second letter (PUSS → PASS). Ladder step: S→T at the fourth letter (PASS → PAST). Ladder step: P→V at the first letter (PAST → VAST) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "HUGE" and bottom "VAST" share the clue: The words to describe something of extremely great size or scope..

Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer.

This Crossclimb is a 4-letter word ladder from HUGE to VAST. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: The words to describe something of extremely great size or scope. The solution path is HUGE → HUGS → PUGS → PUSS → PASS → PAST → VAST, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Embraces in one's arms, Dogs with wrinkly, flat faces, and "____ in Boots" (fairy tale with an anthropomorphic cat), and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: HUGS → PUGS → PUSS → PASS → PAST. The combo clue "The words to describe something of extremely great size or scope." describes both end words together — "HUGE" and "VAST" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer. Use the Solution tab above for a three-phase walkthrough (middles → order → combo ends), or the Solved board tab for the complete ladder at a glance.