Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Middle clue 1 — original clue text unavailable
NONE - 2
Middle clue 2 — original clue text unavailable
CONE - 3
Middle clue 3 — original clue text unavailable
CORE - 4
Middle clue 4 — original clue text unavailable
CORN - 5
Middle clue 5 — original clue text unavailable
COIN
Top + bottom clue
Reveal the solution to see the two endpoint words.
The complete word ladder
Read from top to bottom. Highlighted letters show what changes from the previous word.
- NOSETop endpoint
- NONENOSE → NONE changes position 3 from S to N.
- CONENONE → CONE changes position 1 from N to C.
- CORECONE → CORE changes position 3 from N to R.
- CORNCORE → CORN changes position 4 from E to N.
- COINCORN → COIN changes position 3 from R to I.
- CHINCOIN → CHIN changes position 2 from O to H.
How the endpoints answer the clue
NOSE + CHIN = TWO PARTS OF THE FACE
NOSE is the upper facial endpoint in the final relationship.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | NOSE NOSE is the upper facial endpoint in the final relationship. | Start of ladder |
| Middle clue 1 | NONE NONE means not any and completes Aristotle's warning about universal friendship. | NOSE → NONE changes position 3 from S to N. |
| Middle clue 2 | CONE CONE is the edible holder commonly used for ice cream. | NONE → CONE changes position 1 from N to C. |
| Middle clue 3 | CORE CORE is the central part of an apple containing its seeds. | CONE → CORE changes position 3 from N to R. |
| Middle clue 4 | CORN CORN is a cereal crop often eaten as flakes at breakfast. | CORE → CORN changes position 4 from E to N. |
| Middle clue 5 | COIN COIN is a piece of metal currency that can be flipped. | CORN → COIN changes position 3 from R to I. |
| Bottom endpoint | CHIN CHIN is the lower facial endpoint in the final relationship. | COIN → CHIN changes position 2 from O to H. |
How to work out the order
NONE → CONE → CORE is the best opening segment. CORN and COIN then create two successive changes before CHIN supplies the final body-part endpoint.
- Start with NOSE → NONE → CONE, preserving the O and E positions.
- Continue CONE → CORE → CORN by changing one of the final two letters at a time.
- Finish CORN → COIN → CHIN and identify NOSE and CHIN as face parts.
One takeaway
Endpoint answers do not always form one written compound. Sometimes they describe a relationship, so let the ladder prove the words before forcing them into a phrase-shaped costume.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #819 · 2026-07-28