Crossclimb #618 Answer – January 8, 2026

PRINTGOWNS

Answer

PRINTGOWNS

PRINT
PAINT
Coat you might apply with a brush
PAINS
A perfectionist may take great ones
PAWNS
Chess pieces that can capture en passant
DAWNS
Morning times
DOWNS
Companions of Acrosses in a crossword
GOWNS

Combo Clue

Two words related to dresses, one a type of dress made from patterned fabric and the other word describing types of formal dresses

📖 How I Solved It

I really enjoyed tackling puzzle #618, but let me tell you, the clues had me scratching my head at times! The combo clue about dresses was a bit tricky. I got stuck on trying to think of different dress types and ended up writing down a few wrong guesses, like 'maxi' and 'sundress'. I didn't even consider 'gowns' until it clicked after I finished the word ladder. The word ladder itself was a fun challenge, especially getting from 'PRINT' to 'GOWNS'. I couldn't believe how many steps it took—starting with 'PAINT' and all the way through to 'DAWNS'. All in all, it was a satisfying solve once I finally pieced it all together!

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for January 8, 2026 (#618) is PRINTGOWNS. The complete word ladder is: PRINT → PAINT → PAINS → PAWNS → DAWNS → DOWNS → GOWNS.