Crossclimb #554 Answer – November 5, 2025

BITESIZE

Answer

BITESIZE

BITETOP
RITE
___ of passage (important life event)

Solution: An important ceremony or event in one's life, often marking a stage of development.

RIDE
Ferris wheel or roller coaster at an amusement park, for example

Solution: Commonly associated with amusement park attractions, part of the fun in getting to the answer.

HIDE
What you need to do right before the guest of honor arrives at a surprise party

Solution: What you'd do to surprise someone, adding a playful element to the clue.

HIRE
Put on the payroll

Solution: To employ someone, which connects indirectly to the theme of size.

SIRE
Male parent of a horse (and an old way to address a king)

Solution: A term for a male parent of a horse, and a historic title of respect for kings.

SIZEBOTTOM

Combo Clue

Two-word phrase that describes food that is small enough to be popped into your mouth whole.

📖 How I Solved It

I tackled puzzle #554 on a chilly November morning, and let me tell you, the Combo Clue had me scratching my head for a bit. The clue said it was a two-word phrase for food small enough to pop into your mouth whole. I kept thinking about snacks, but my mind kept drifting to things like 'finger food,' which wasn't quite right. I also went through a phase of guessing things like 'bite-sized' and even 'mini morsels' before it finally clicked that it was BITESIZE. The word ladder was pretty straightforward, though I did get tripped up on RITE and RIDE for a moment. I remember thinking that RITE was just 'rite' and couldn't connect it to anything. In the end, I had a blast piecing it all together - it was definitely a satisfying solve!

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for November 5, 2025 (#554) is BITESIZE. The complete word ladder is: BITE → RITE → RIDE → HIDE → HIRE → SIRE → SIZE.