Crossclimb #594 Answer – December 15, 2025
HUMPBACK
Answer
HUMPBACK
Solution: The clue refers to the phrase 'bump into,' which means to meet someone by chance.
Solution: This is a straightforward clue that directly describes the action of belching.
Solution: The clue describes the process of something catching fire and going up in flames.
Solution: This clue points to a common farm building specifically used for housing cows and other livestock.
Solution: This clue refers to the characteristic sound made by dogs.
Combo Clue
“Compound word for a large baleen whale”
📖 How I Solved It
I dove into Puzzle #594 today and my first impression was that it looked pretty manageable. The combo clue about a 'large baleen whale' immediately brought 'HUMPBACK' to mind, but I wanted to play around with the word ladder first. The trickiest part was definitely 'BURP' – I was stuck for a moment because I kept thinking about belching sounds and couldn't connect it back to anything in my vocabulary. But then, suddenly, it clicked, and I had my 'aha moment.' After that, the rest just fell into place. I initially guessed 'BARK' as something else entirely, but after a quick rethink, I realized it was the sound a dog makes, not whatever random word I had in my head. The satisfaction of piecing it all together was great, and I couldn't help but smile when the combo answer finally appeared. HUMPBACK is such a cool word!
💡 Tips for This Puzzle
- •Always start with the combo clue; it often gives a big hint for the ladder.
- •Take your time with the ladder – sometimes the simplest words can trip you up.
- •If you're stuck, try to think of synonyms or related words for the clues you know.