Crossclimb #616 Answer – January 6, 2026

CRABMEAT

Answer

CRABMEAT

CRAB
DRAB
“Lacking brightness or color”
DRAG
“Pull along with effort”
BRAG
“Talk boastfully about accomplishments”
BRAT
“2024 album by Charli XCX, or a spoiled child”
BEAT
“Pulsate like a heart”
MEAT

Combo Clue

“Two-word source of protein from a crustacean”

📖 How I Solved It

I really enjoyed tackling puzzle #616, but that combo clue had me scratching my head for a bit! 'Two-word source of protein from a crustacean' seemed straightforward, yet I kept second-guessing myself. I started thinking of all sorts of seafood, and at one point, I even wrote down 'lobster roll'—yeah, that didn't fit! Once I finally realized it was 'crab' and 'meat,' the answer just clicked. The Word Ladder was pretty entertaining, too. I had a moment of confusion with 'DRAG' and 'BRAG' since they sounded so similar, but it all worked out in the end. I guess I just needed to take a step back and look at the connections more clearly.

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for January 6, 2026 (#616) is CRABMEAT. The complete word ladder is: CRAB → DRAB → DRAG → BRAG → BRAT → BEAT → MEAT.