LinkedIn Crossclimb #880

LinkedIn Crossclimb #880 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for September 27, 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: Hard. Estimated solve time: 6–10 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from SHIPS to FLEET:

SHIPS → CHIPS → CLIPS → FLIPS → FLIES → FLEES → FLEET

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Ocean vessels, and a word for a group of them.”

1. Middle 1Clue 1

   CHIPS

   Small squares containing circuits

   Clue insight

   "Small squares containing circuits" resolves to "CHIPS" once you read the clue as a 5-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

   CLIPS

   Short segments from longer videos

   Clue insight

   "Short segments from longer videos" resolves to "CLIPS" once you read the clue as a 5-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

   FLIPS

   Turns over, as a playing card

   Clue insight

   "Turns over, as a playing card" resolves to "FLIPS" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer.

   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

   FLIES

   Plays with, as a kite

   Clue insight

   "Plays with, as a kite" resolves to "FLIES" once you read the clue as a 5-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

   FLEES

   Runs away from danger

   Clue insight

   "Runs away from danger" resolves to "FLEES" once you read the clue as a 5-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. SHIPS → CHIPSStep 1

   S→C at the first letter (SHIPS → CHIPS)

   SHIPS and CHIPS are adjacent in the solved ladder — S→C at the first letter (SHIPS → CHIPS).

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

2. CHIPS → CLIPSStep 2

   H→L at the second letter (CHIPS → CLIPS)

   CHIPS and CLIPS are adjacent in the solved ladder — H→L at the second letter (CHIPS → CLIPS).

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

3. CLIPS → FLIPSStep 3

   C→F at the first letter (CLIPS → FLIPS)

   CLIPS and FLIPS are adjacent in the solved ladder — C→F at the first letter (CLIPS → FLIPS).

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

4. FLIPS → FLIESStep 4

   P→E at the fourth letter (FLIPS → FLIES)

   FLIPS and FLIES are adjacent in the solved ladder — P→E at the fourth letter (FLIPS → FLIES).

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

5. FLIES → FLEESStep 5

   I→E at the third letter (FLIES → FLEES)

   FLIES and FLEES are adjacent in the solved ladder — I→E at the third letter (FLIES → FLEES).

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

6. FLEES → FLEETStep 6

   S→T at the fifth letter (FLEES → FLEET)

   FLEES and FLEET are adjacent in the solved ladder — S→T at the fifth letter (FLEES → FLEET).

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

After solving middles (CHIPS, CLIPS, FLIPS, FLIES, FLEES), only the order CHIPS → CLIPS → FLIPS → FLIES → FLEES satisfies the one-letter rule between every adjacent pair. Each step changes exactly one letter: S→C at the first letter (SHIPS → CHIPS); H→L at the second letter (CHIPS → CLIPS); C→F at the first letter (CLIPS → FLIPS); P→E at the fourth letter (FLIPS → FLIES); I→E at the third letter (FLIES → FLEES); S→T at the fifth letter (FLEES → FLEET). Wrong permutations fail when two middles differ by two or more letters.

The combo clue "Ocean vessels, and a word for a group of them." describes both end words together — "SHIPS" and "FLEET" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Top "SHIPS" connects to CHIPS via S→C at the first letter (SHIPS → CHIPS). Bottom "FLEET" connects from FLEES via S→T at the fifth letter (FLEES → FLEET).

The combo clue "Ocean vessels, and a word for a group of them." describes both end words together — "SHIPS" and "FLEET" 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 CHIPS, CLIPS, FLIPS, FLIES, FLEES. Middle 1: "Small squares containing circuits" → CHIPS. "Small squares containing circuits" resolves to "CHIPS" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Short segments from longer videos" → CLIPS. "Short segments from longer videos" resolves to "CLIPS" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Turns over, as a playing card" → FLIPS. "Turns over, as a playing card" resolves to "FLIPS" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Plays with, as a kite" → FLIES. "Plays with, as a kite" resolves to "FLIES" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Runs away from danger" → FLEES. "Runs away from danger" resolves to "FLEES" once you read the clue as a 5-letter crossword answer. Phase 2: Order the middle rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter — valid chain: CHIPS → CLIPS → FLIPS → FLIES → FLEES. Ladder step: S→C at the first letter (SHIPS → CHIPS) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: H→L at the second letter (CHIPS → CLIPS). Ladder step: C→F at the first letter (CLIPS → FLIPS). Ladder step: P→E at the fourth letter (FLIPS → FLIES). Ladder step: I→E at the third letter (FLIES → FLEES). Ladder step: S→T at the fifth letter (FLEES → FLEET) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "SHIPS" and bottom "FLEET" share the clue: Ocean vessels, and a word for a group of them..

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

This Crossclimb is a 5-letter word ladder from SHIPS to FLEET. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Ocean vessels, and a word for a group of them. The solution path is SHIPS → CHIPS → CLIPS → FLIPS → FLIES → FLEES → FLEET, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Small squares containing circuits, Short segments from longer videos, and Turns over, as a playing card, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: CHIPS → CLIPS → FLIPS → FLIES → FLEES. The combo clue "Ocean vessels, and a word for a group of them." describes both end words together — "SHIPS" and "FLEET" 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.