LinkedIn Crossclimb Answer #904 — Wednesday, October 21, 2026
The 7-word ladder
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a legitimate target for criticism, or an unbiased sporting competition. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
Opposite of "succeed"
Tumble to the ground
What gets hit in golf or tennis
Bundle of hay or straw
Strong wind
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a legitimate target for criticism, or an unbiased sporting competition. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
Ladder specification
| Puzzle | #904 |
|---|---|
| Date | Oct 21, 2026 |
| Rungs | 7 |
| Word length | 4 letters each |
| Single-letter steps | 6 of 6 |
| Positions that change | 1, 3, 4 |
| Distinct letters used | 9 |
The solution, step by step
Crossclimb is a word ladder: each rung differs from the one above it by exactly one letter. Below is the order that works for #904, with the letter that changes at each step.
1. FAIR
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a legitimate target for criticism, or an unbiased sporting competition. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
2. FAIL
Letter 4 changes from R to L. Opposite of "succeed"
3. FALL
Letter 3 changes from I to L. Tumble to the ground
4. BALL
Letter 1 changes from F to B. What gets hit in golf or tennis
5. BALE
Letter 4 changes from L to E. Bundle of hay or straw
6. GALE
Letter 1 changes from B to G. Strong wind
7. GAME
Letter 3 changes from L to M. The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a legitimate target for criticism, or an unbiased sporting competition. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
How Crossclimb works
The ladder
You get 7 words of 4 letters, each with a trivia clue. Neighbouring words differ by exactly one letter, which is what makes it a climb rather than a quiz. Puzzle #904changes letter position 1, 3 and 4 somewhere along the way.
The top and bottom rows
The first and last rungs carry a two-part clue: together they form one answer, and either may sit at the top or the bottom. That is why the opening clue reads as a riddle rather than a definition — the first word can be at either end of the ladder.
How to approach it
- Solve the middle rungs first. They are ordinary definitions; the bracketed pair is deliberately ambiguous.
- Write the letter that changes under each rung. Two rungs that change the same position is a strong signal your ladder is right.
- If a word fits the clue but differs by two letters from its neighbour, it is the wrong word — the one-letter rule is absolute.
Sources and method
Clues and rungs are taken from the official LinkedIn Crossclimb puzzle for Oct 21, 2026. The step-by-step letter comparison above is generated by us from those words, not copied from another site.
- LinkedIn Crossclimb (official puzzle) — www.linkedin.com/games/crossclimb/ · clues and rungs
- LinkedIn Games hub — www.linkedin.com/games/ · daily schedule and reset time
Other Crossclimb answers
- Crossclimb #911Oct 28, 2026
- Crossclimb #910Oct 27, 2026
- Crossclimb #909Oct 26, 2026
- Crossclimb #908Oct 25, 2026
- Crossclimb #906Oct 23, 2026
- Crossclimb #905Oct 22, 2026
- Crossclimb #903Oct 20, 2026
- Crossclimb #902Oct 19, 2026
- Crossclimb #900Oct 17, 2026
Browse all Crossclimb answers →
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