LinkedIn Crossclimb #839

LinkedIn Crossclimb #839 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for August 17, 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 MISS to BOAT:

MISS → MASS → MAST → CAST → COST → COAT → BOAT

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Two words that complete the expression “___ the ___” meaning to lose out on an opportunity (i.e., the ship’s already left!).”

1. Middle 1Sample 1

   MASS

   Physical property measured in grams

   Clue insight

   Sample 1: Physical property measured in grams = MASS

   Solving note

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

2. Middle 2Sample 2

   MAST

   Tall pole used to support a sail

   Clue insight

   Sample 2: Tall pole used to support a sail = MAST

   Solving note

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

3. Middle 3Sample 3

   CAST

   Fiberglass bandage used to immobilize a broken bone

   Clue insight

   Sample 3: Fiberglass bandage used to immobilize a broken bone = CAST

   Solving note

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

4. Middle 4Sample 4

   COST

   It’s listed on a price tag

   Clue insight

   Sample 4: It’s listed on a price tag = COST

   Solving note

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

5. Middle 5Sample 5

   COAT

   Outerwear to protect from the cold and rain

   Clue insight

   Sample 5: Outerwear to protect from the cold and rain = COAT

   Solving note

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

1. MISS → MASSStep 1

   I→A at the second letter (MISS → MASS)

   Transition 1 I→A at the second letter (MISS → MASS)

   Combo boundary transition.

2. MASS → MASTStep 2

   S→T at the fourth letter (MASS → MAST)

   Transition 2 S→T at the fourth letter (MASS → MAST)

   Interior ladder transition.

3. MAST → CASTStep 3

   M→C at the first letter (MAST → CAST)

   Transition 3 M→C at the first letter (MAST → CAST)

   Interior ladder transition.

4. CAST → COSTStep 4

   A→O at the second letter (CAST → COST)

   Transition 4 A→O at the second letter (CAST → COST)

   Interior ladder transition.

5. COST → COATStep 5

   S→A at the third letter (COST → COAT)

   Transition 5 S→A at the third letter (COST → COAT)

   Interior ladder transition.

6. COAT → BOATStep 6

   C→B at the first letter (COAT → BOAT)

   Transition 6 C→B at the first letter (COAT → BOAT)

   Combo boundary transition.

Optimal order: MASS → MAST → CAST → COST → COAT. 1 valid permutation(s) from 5 middles. Unique ordering.

Combo classification: "Two words that complete the expression “___ the ___” meaning to lose out on an opportunity (i.e., the ship’s already left!)." → endpoints MISS, BOAT.

The combo clue "Two words that complete the expression “___ the ___” meaning to lose out on an opportunity (i.e., the ship’s already left!)." describes both end words together — "MISS" and "BOAT" 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 MASS, MAST, CAST, COST, COAT. Middle 1: "Physical property measured in grams" → MASS. "Physical property measured in grams" resolves to "MASS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Tall pole used to support a sail" → MAST. "Tall pole used to support a sail" resolves to "MAST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Fiberglass bandage used to immobilize a broken bone" → CAST. "Fiberglass bandage used to immobilize a broken bone" resolves to "CAST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "It’s listed on a price tag" → COST. "It’s listed on a price tag" resolves to "COST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Outerwear to protect from the cold and rain" → COAT. "Outerwear to protect from the cold and rain" resolves to "COAT" 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: MASS → MAST → CAST → COST → COAT. Ladder step: I→A at the second letter (MISS → MASS) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: S→T at the fourth letter (MASS → MAST). Ladder step: M→C at the first letter (MAST → CAST). Ladder step: A→O at the second letter (CAST → COST). Ladder step: S→A at the third letter (COST → COAT). Ladder step: C→B at the first letter (COAT → BOAT) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "MISS" and bottom "BOAT" share the clue: Two words that complete the expression “___ the ___” meaning to lose out on an opportunity (i.e., the ship’s already left!)..

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 MISS to BOAT. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Two words that complete the expression “___ the ___” meaning to lose out on an opportunity (i.e., the ship’s already left!). The solution path is MISS → MASS → MAST → CAST → COST → COAT → BOAT, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Physical property measured in grams, Tall pole used to support a sail, and Fiberglass bandage used to immobilize a broken bone, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: MASS → MAST → CAST → COST → COAT. The combo clue "Two words that complete the expression “___ the ___” meaning to lose out on an opportunity (i.e., the ship’s already left!)." describes both end words together — "MISS" and "BOAT" 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.