Crossclimb #566 Answer – November 17, 2025

KILLTIME

Answer

KILLTIME

KILLTOP
PILL
Dose of medicine swallowed with a bit of water

Solution: 'Pill' refers to a small round mass of solid medicine.

PILE
Heap of something (like leaves)

Solution: A 'pile' is a collection or heap of items, often stacked.

FILE
Manicurist's tool for smoothing fingernails, or something saved on a computer

Solution: A 'file' can be either a tool for manicuring nails or a digital document saved on a computer.

FIRE
What a pyromaniac is obsessed with

Solution: This clue relates to the intense fascination some people have with fire.

TIRE
Grow weary after staying up too late

Solution: To 'tire' means to become fatigued, often after prolonged activity.

TIMEBOTTOM

Combo Clue

Two-word phrase that means "occupy yourself while waiting" as you may do between flights at an airport.

📖 How I Solved It

I really enjoyed tackling puzzle #566, but I have to admit, the combo clue threw me off a bit. 'Occupy yourself while waiting' had me thinking about all sorts of things, and I got fixated on 'KILL TIME' even though I thought it might be a bit too straightforward. I tried 'PASS TIME' first, which didn't fit with the word ladder, and then I thought maybe 'WAIT TIME' could work, but nope! Once I finally locked in 'KILL TIME', the rest of the challenge came together. The word ladder was pretty fun, especially jumping from 'KILL' to 'PILL' and then figuring out how to get to 'TIME'. I felt like I was on a little adventure with each step. Overall, it was a good blend of tricky and satisfying!

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for November 17, 2025 (#566) is KILLTIME. The complete word ladder is: KILL → PILL → PILE → FILE → FIRE → TIRE → TIME.