LinkedIn Crossclimb #896

LinkedIn Crossclimb #896 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for October 13, 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 SEND to POST:

SEND → MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST → POST

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail.”

1. Middle 1First middle

   MEND

   Repair, as a hole in a garment

   Clue insight

   I read "Repair, as a hole in a garment" and write MEND. "Repair, as a hole in a garment" resolves to "MEND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   First middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

2. Middle 2Second middle

   MIND

   Keep in ___ (take into account)

   Clue insight

   I read "Keep in ___ (take into account)" and write MIND. Fill-in style clue — "MIND" completes the pattern described in "Keep in ___ (take into account)".

   Solving note

   Second middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

3. Middle 3Third middle

   MINT

   Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”

   Clue insight

   I read "Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”" and write MINT. "Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”" resolves to "MINT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Third middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

4. Middle 4Fourth middle

   MIST

   Fine spray of water

   Clue insight

   I read "Fine spray of water" and write MIST. "Fine spray of water" resolves to "MIST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Fourth middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

5. Middle 5Fifth middle

   MOST

   Opposite of least

   Clue insight

   I read "Opposite of least" and write MOST. "Opposite of least" resolves to "MOST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Fifth middle: Lock this before reordering middles.

1. SEND → MENDStep 1

   S→M at the first letter (SEND → MEND)

   I check SEND → MEND: S→M at the first letter (SEND → MEND).

   First link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

2. MEND → MINDStep 2

   E→I at the second letter (MEND → MIND)

   I check MEND → MIND: E→I at the second letter (MEND → MIND).

   Second link: Vowel swap — keep the chain tight.

3. MIND → MINTStep 3

   D→T at the fourth letter (MIND → MINT)

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

   Third link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

4. MINT → MISTStep 4

   N→S at the third letter (MINT → MIST)

   I check MINT → MIST: N→S at the third letter (MINT → MIST).

   Fourth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

5. MIST → MOSTStep 5

   I→O at the second letter (MIST → MOST)

   I check MIST → MOST: I→O at the second letter (MIST → MOST).

   Fifth link: Vowel swap — keep the chain tight.

6. MOST → POSTStep 6

   M→P at the first letter (MOST → POST)

   I check MOST → POST: M→P at the first letter (MOST → POST).

   Sixth link: Consonant swap — keep the chain tight.

I arrange middles as MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST because that's the chain where every hop changes one letter. 6 links checked — S→M at the first letter (SEND → MEND) through M→P at the first letter (MOST → POST).

Combo clue "Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail." — I only fill SEND and POST after middles order cleanly. The pair should read naturally against the clue.

The combo clue "Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail." describes both end words together — "SEND" and "POST" 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 MEND, MIND, MINT, MIST, MOST. Middle 1: "Repair, as a hole in a garment" → MEND. "Repair, as a hole in a garment" resolves to "MEND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Keep in ___ (take into account)" → MIND. Fill-in style clue — "MIND" completes the pattern described in "Keep in ___ (take into account)". Middle 3: "Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”" → MINT. "Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”" resolves to "MINT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Fine spray of water" → MIST. "Fine spray of water" resolves to "MIST" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Opposite of least" → MOST. "Opposite of least" resolves to "MOST" 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: MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST. Ladder step: S→M at the first letter (SEND → MEND) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: E→I at the second letter (MEND → MIND). Ladder step: D→T at the fourth letter (MIND → MINT). Ladder step: N→S at the third letter (MINT → MIST). Ladder step: I→O at the second letter (MIST → MOST). Ladder step: M→P at the first letter (MOST → POST) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "SEND" and bottom "POST" share the clue: Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail..

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 SEND to POST. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail. The solution path is SEND → MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST → POST, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Repair, as a hole in a garment, Keep in ___ (take into account), and Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST. The combo clue "Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail." describes both end words together — "SEND" and "POST" 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.