Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Polka ___ (fabric pattern)
DOTS - 2
Excessively bestow affection (on)
DOTE - 3
Romantically involved couple's outing
DATE - 4
Either half of a romantically involved couple
MATE - 5
Soft platforms in a yoga studio
MATS
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = Two groups of animals commonly adopted as pets.
The complete word ladder
Read from top to bottom. Highlighted letters show what changes from the previous word.
- DOGSTop endpoint
- DOTSDOGS → DOTS changes position 3 from G to T.
- DOTEDOTS → DOTE changes position 4 from S to E.
- DATEDOTE → DATE changes position 2 from O to A.
- MATEDATE → MATE changes position 1 from D to M.
- MATSMATE → MATS changes position 4 from E to S.
- CATSMATS → CATS changes position 1 from M to C.
How the endpoints answer the clue
DOGS + CATS
The top + bottom rows = Two groups of animals commonly adopted as pets.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | DOGS DOGS is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two groups of animals commonly adopted as pets.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Polka ___ (fabric pattern) | DOTS DOTS is the answer to “Polka ___ (fabric pattern)”. | DOGS → DOTS changes position 3 from G to T. |
| Excessively bestow affection (on) | DOTE DOTE is the answer to “Excessively bestow affection (on)”. | DOTS → DOTE changes position 4 from S to E. |
| Romantically involved couple's outing | DATE DATE is the answer to “Romantically involved couple's outing”. | DOTE → DATE changes position 2 from O to A. |
| Either half of a romantically involved couple | MATE MATE is the answer to “Either half of a romantically involved couple”. | DATE → MATE changes position 1 from D to M. |
| Soft platforms in a yoga studio | MATS MATS is the answer to “Soft platforms in a yoga studio”. | MATE → MATS changes position 4 from E to S. |
| Bottom endpoint | CATS CATS is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two groups of animals commonly adopted as pets.” and serves as an endpoint. | MATS → CATS changes position 1 from M to C. |
How to work out the order
DOGS → DOTS starts the chain with a change in position 3. From there, the changed positions run 3, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor DOTS beside DOGS because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through DOTS → DOTE → DATE → MATE → MATS, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place CATS at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect DOGS with CATS.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 3, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #924 · 2026-11-10 · #922 · 2026-11-08