2026-07-23
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Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Analytical breakdown format — word list, path analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
LinkedIn Wend #45 is the LinkedIn Wend daily for July 23, 2026. Wend is LinkedIn's word-finding game: drag through adjacent letters on a 6×6 grid to spell 4 hidden words (5, 6, 7, and 8 letters each). Every letter is used exactly once. 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.
Answer
This board hides 4 words: "APPLE", "DECREE", "ATHLETE", "AARDVARK".
The longest word is AARDVARK — solve it first, then work through the remaining paths in recommended order.
Analysis
LinkedIn Wend #45 is a 6×6 Wend board hiding 4 words ("APPLE", "DECREE", "ATHLETE", and "AARDVARK"). Path analysis starts with grid geometry: 26 playable letters must partition into non-overlapping snakes.
"AARDVARK" (8 letters) is the anchor. Starts at row 2, column 2 (interior), then runs one cell east, then one cell north, then 2 cells east, then one cell south, then one cell east, then one cell north. Contains rare letter K — usually a strong anchor for this word's path. A zigzag path with multiple turns — harder to guess without tracing letter by letter.
"ATHLETE" removes 7 cells; 11 letters remain for 2 words. Path shape: snake.
"DECREE" removes 6 cells; 5 letters remain for 1 word. Path shape: uTurn.
The final word "APPLE" consumes the last 5 cells. After this path, the partition is complete — no orphan letters.
Full partition: "APPLE", "DECREE", "ATHLETE", and "AARDVARK" on a 6×6 board. All 26 playable letters belong to exactly 4 words (APPLE, DECREE, ATHLETE, AARDVARK). No letter is shared between paths, and every cell with a letter is used. This is a rare-letter anchor layout — A rare letter (Q, X, Z, J, or K) anchors at least one word. Uncommon letters usually belong to a single path — scan for them before guessing long routes through the center.
Words
Path
Starts at row 2, column 2 (interior), then runs one cell east, then one cell north, then 2 cells east, then one cell south, then one cell east, then one cell north.
Contains rare letter K — usually a strong anchor for this word's path. A zigzag path with multiple turns — harder to guess without tracing letter by letter.
Solving note
Anchor word: Start here — "AARDVARK" claims 8 cells and defines the rest of the partition.
Path
Starts at row 3, column 2 (interior), then runs one cell west, then 2 cells south, then one cell east, then one cell north, then one cell east.
The path crosses the grid center, consuming territory that would block multiple shorter words. A snaking path with multiple turns — harder to guess without tracing letter by letter.
Solving note
Territory claim: After prior locks, 18 cells were open; this word consumes 7.
Path
Starts at row 6, column 1 (corner), then runs 3 cells east, then one cell north, then one cell east.
A U-turn path that doubles back — watch for cells that look available but belong to this word. Starts in a corner — fewer adjacent options often mean a clearer first letter to test.
Solving note
Bridge path: After prior locks, 11 cells were open; this word consumes 6.
Path
Starts at row 3, column 4 (interior), then runs 2 cells east, then one cell south, then one cell west.
The path crosses the grid center, consuming territory that would block multiple shorter words. A U-turn path that doubles back — watch for cells that look available but belong to this word.
Solving note
Gap filler: "APPLE" is the final 5-letter path — verify no unused cells remain.
Verification
Longest-first ordering ("AARDVARK" (8), then "ATHLETE" (7), then "DECREE" (6), then "APPLE" (5)) minimizes dead-end paths on this 6×6 board. "AARDVARK" removes the most cells in one trace — 8 letters — leaving 18 for the remaining words. Shorter words after that often have only one legal path through leftover clusters.
Solve path
Step 1: Lock "AARDVARK" (8 letters) first — Starts at row 2, column 2 (interior), then runs one cell east, then one cell north, then 2 cells east, then one cell south, then one cell east, then one cell north. 18 playable letters remain. Step 2: Place "ATHLETE" (7 letters). 11 letters left in 2 words. Step 3: Place "DECREE" (6 letters). 5 letters left in 1 word. Step 4: Finish with "APPLE" — the last 5-letter path. Every letter on the board is now accounted for.
Pattern
A rare letter (Q, X, Z, J, or K) anchors at least one word. Uncommon letters usually belong to a single path — scan for them before guessing long routes through the center.
All 26 playable letters belong to exactly 4 words (APPLE, DECREE, ATHLETE, AARDVARK). No letter is shared between paths, and every cell with a letter is used.
Learn more in Wend Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
On LinkedIn Wend #45, the 8-letter word "AARDVARK" is the highest-impact path. Contains rare letter K — usually a strong anchor for this word's path. A zigzag path with multiple turns — harder to guess without tracing letter by letter. Locking it exposes how "ATHLETE", "DECREE", "APPLE" must fit.
A rare letter (Q, X, Z, J, or K) anchors at least one word. Uncommon letters usually belong to a single path — scan for them before guessing long routes through the center.
After all 4 words, every playable cell should belong to exactly one path. All 26 playable letters belong to exactly 4 words (APPLE, DECREE, ATHLETE, AARDVARK). No letter is shared between paths, and every cell with a letter is used. If a letter looks orphaned, a path is wrong — reset and try a different long-word route.
Solution
This Wend puzzle hides APPLE, DECREE, ATHLETE, and AARDVARK on a 6×6 board. Each word is spelled by connecting horizontally or vertically adjacent cells — no diagonals, no reusing letters, and no overlapping paths. Word lengths run from 5 to 8 letters; recommended solve order (longest first): AARDVARK, ATHLETE, DECREE, and APPLE. Start with "AARDVARK" — the 8-letter anchor — then fill shorter paths through remaining letter clusters. A rare letter (Q, X, Z, J, or K) anchors at least one word. Uncommon letters usually belong to a single path — scan for them before guessing long routes through the center. Use the Solution tab above for an interactive word-by-word walkthrough with live paths on the grid, or the Solved board tab for the complete answer at a glance.