Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Peaceful bird on a United Nations postage stamp
DOVE - 2
Amount of medicine
DOSE - 3
Something a fashion model "strikes"
POSE - 4
Put online, like a LinkedIn update
POST - 5
Irritating child or insect
PEST
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = A compound word for a gathering where people praise and appreciate each other. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
The complete word ladder
Read from top to bottom. Highlighted letters show what changes from the previous word.
- LOVETop endpoint
- DOVELOVE → DOVE changes position 1 from L to D.
- DOSEDOVE → DOSE changes position 3 from V to S.
- POSEDOSE → POSE changes position 1 from D to P.
- POSTPOSE → POST changes position 4 from E to T.
- PESTPOST → PEST changes position 2 from O to E.
- FESTPEST → FEST changes position 1 from P to F.
How the endpoints answer the clue
LOVE + FEST = LOVEFEST
A lovefest is a gathering or occasion where people express praise and appreciation for one another. LOVE and FEST form that compound word; they also fit the ladder because LOVE changes to DOVE and PEST changes to FEST by one letter.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | LOVE LOVE supplies the first part of LOVEFEST, the gathering described by the shared clue. | Start of ladder |
| Peaceful bird on a United Nations postage stamp | DOVE A dove is a bird associated with peace, matching the peaceful-bird clue. | LOVE → DOVE changes position 1 from L to D. |
| Amount of medicine | DOSE A dose is an amount of medicine taken or administered at one time. | DOVE → DOSE changes position 3 from V to S. |
| Something a fashion model "strikes" | POSE To strike a pose is to hold a particular body position, as a fashion model does. | DOSE → POSE changes position 1 from D to P. |
| Put online, like a LinkedIn update | POST To post is to publish or share something online, such as a LinkedIn update. | POSE → POST changes position 4 from E to T. |
| Irritating child or insect | PEST A pest can be an annoying person or an unwanted insect; both meanings fit this clue. | POST → PEST changes position 2 from O to E. |
| Bottom endpoint | FEST FEST supplies the second part of LOVEFEST. The combined word describes a gathering or occasion of mutual praise and appreciation. | PEST → FEST changes position 1 from P to F. |
How to work out the order
LOVE → DOVE starts the chain with a change in position 1. From there, the changed positions run 1, 3, 1, 4, 2, 1, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor DOVE beside LOVE because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through DOVE → DOSE → POSE → POST → PEST, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place FEST at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect LOVE with FEST.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 1, 3, 1, 4, 2, 1. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #905 · 2026-10-22 · #904 · 2026-10-21