LinkedIn Crossclimb #841

LinkedIn Crossclimb #841 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for August 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: Medium. Estimated solve time: 4–6 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from MINI to GOLF:

MINI → MIND → FIND → FOND → FOLD → GOLD → GOLF

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “A compound word for a downscaled version of a sport where one only uses a putter to get a ball in a hole.”

1. Middle 1First middle

   MIND

   “___ over matter” (mental focus can overcome physical obstacles)

   Clue insight

   I read "“___ over matter” (mental focus can overcome physical obstacles)" and write MIND. Fill-in style clue — "MIND" completes the pattern described in "“___ over matter” (mental focus can overcome physical obstacles)".

   Solving note

   First middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

2. Middle 2Second middle

   FIND

   Locate a lost item by searching

   Clue insight

   I read "Locate a lost item by searching" and write FIND. "Locate a lost item by searching" resolves to "FIND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Second middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

3. Middle 3Third middle

   FOND

   Enamored, with “of”

   Clue insight

   I read "Enamored, with “of”" and write FOND. "Enamored, with “of”" resolves to "FOND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Third middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

4. Middle 4Fourth middle

   FOLD

   Common step in origami

   Clue insight

   I read "Common step in origami" and write FOLD. "Common step in origami" resolves to "FOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Fourth middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

5. Middle 5Fifth middle

   GOLD

   Top medal at the Olympics

   Clue insight

   I read "Top medal at the Olympics" and write GOLD. "Top medal at the Olympics" resolves to "GOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Fifth middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

1. MINI → MINDStep 1

   I→D at the fourth letter (MINI → MIND)

   I check MINI → MIND: I→D at the fourth letter (MINI → MIND).

   First link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

2. MIND → FINDStep 2

   M→F at the first letter (MIND → FIND)

   I check MIND → FIND: M→F at the first letter (MIND → FIND).

   Second link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

3. FIND → FONDStep 3

   I→O at the second letter (FIND → FOND)

   I check FIND → FOND: I→O at the second letter (FIND → FOND).

   Third link: Vowel swap — keep the chain tight.

4. FOND → FOLDStep 4

   N→L at the third letter (FOND → FOLD)

   I check FOND → FOLD: N→L at the third letter (FOND → FOLD).

   Fourth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

5. FOLD → GOLDStep 5

   F→G at the first letter (FOLD → GOLD)

   I check FOLD → GOLD: F→G at the first letter (FOLD → GOLD).

   Fifth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

6. GOLD → GOLFStep 6

   D→F at the fourth letter (GOLD → GOLF)

   I check GOLD → GOLF: D→F at the fourth letter (GOLD → GOLF).

   Sixth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

I arrange middles as MIND → FIND → FOND → FOLD → GOLD because that's the chain where every hop changes one letter. 6 links checked — I→D at the fourth letter (MINI → MIND) through D→F at the fourth letter (GOLD → GOLF).

Combo clue "A compound word for a downscaled version of a sport where one only uses a putter to get a ball in a hole." — I only fill MINI and GOLF after middles order cleanly. The pair should read naturally against the clue.

The combo clue "A compound word for a downscaled version of a sport where one only uses a putter to get a ball in a hole." describes both end words together — "MINI" and "GOLF" 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 MIND, FIND, FOND, FOLD, GOLD. Middle 1: "“___ over matter” (mental focus can overcome physical obstacles)" → MIND. Fill-in style clue — "MIND" completes the pattern described in "“___ over matter” (mental focus can overcome physical obstacles)". Middle 2: "Locate a lost item by searching" → FIND. "Locate a lost item by searching" resolves to "FIND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Enamored, with “of”" → FOND. "Enamored, with “of”" resolves to "FOND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Common step in origami" → FOLD. "Common step in origami" resolves to "FOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Top medal at the Olympics" → GOLD. "Top medal at the Olympics" resolves to "GOLD" 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: MIND → FIND → FOND → FOLD → GOLD. Ladder step: I→D at the fourth letter (MINI → MIND) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: M→F at the first letter (MIND → FIND). Ladder step: I→O at the second letter (FIND → FOND). Ladder step: N→L at the third letter (FOND → FOLD). Ladder step: F→G at the first letter (FOLD → GOLD). Ladder step: D→F at the fourth letter (GOLD → GOLF) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "MINI" and bottom "GOLF" share the clue: A compound word for a downscaled version of a sport where one only uses a putter to get a ball in a hole..

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 MINI to GOLF. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: A compound word for a downscaled version of a sport where one only uses a putter to get a ball in a hole. The solution path is MINI → MIND → FIND → FOND → FOLD → GOLD → GOLF, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include “___ over matter” (mental focus can overcome physical obstacles), Locate a lost item by searching, and Enamored, with “of”, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: MIND → FIND → FOND → FOLD → GOLD. The combo clue "A compound word for a downscaled version of a sport where one only uses a putter to get a ball in a hole." describes both end words together — "MINI" and "GOLF" 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.