LinkedIn Crossclimb answer for Sunday, September 20: #873
LinkedIn Crossclimb #873 is the puzzle for Sunday, September 20, 2026: a seven-rung word ladder, five clues and one clue shared by the top and bottom rungs.
Updated 1:08 PM PT, Nov 7
Puzzle date Sunday, September 20
The ladder, rung by rung
The two end words together name a man who raises a child he isn't related to by blood, and one rung in between is something pinned up on a wall.
Large notice or picture hung on a wall
Crossclimb #873 clue 1: Large notice or picture hung on a wall → POSTER
POSTER
A poster is a large notice or picture hung on a wall.
Irritate or bother
Crossclimb #873 clue 2: Irritate or bother → PESTER
PESTER
To pester is to irritate or bother someone again and again.
Become more irritating, like a problem you are ignoring
Crossclimb #873 clue 3: Become more irritating, like a problem you are ignoring → FESTER
FESTER
To fester is to grow worse and more irritating when left ignored, like a problem or a wound.
At a higher speed
Crossclimb #873 clue 4: At a higher speed → FASTER
FASTER
Faster means moving at a higher speed.
Stouter
Crossclimb #873 clue 5: Stouter → FATTER
FATTER
Fatter means stouter, with more body weight or width.
Top and bottom rungs
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a male family member who's not in your bloodline. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
Opens after the five rungs above.
FOSTERFATHER
“foster father”
FOSTER sits at the top and is the first word in “foster father”, with FATHER at the bottom as the second word.
FOSTER is the first word and FATHER the second, making “foster father”, a man who raises a child he is not related to by blood.