Crossclimb #667 Answer – February 26, 2026

MALICHAD

Answer

MALICHAD

MALI
MALT
“Grain used in brewing beer”
MOLT
“Lose a layer of feathers or scales (in British English, shed a “u” like a layer of letters to get the intended entry)”
MOAT
“Body of water that protects a castle”
COAT
“Apply with a layer of paint”
CHAT
“Have a casual conversation”
CHAD

Combo Clue

“Two African nations separated by Niger.”

📖 How I Solved It

I was really excited to tackle puzzle #667, especially with that Combo Clue about two African nations separated by Niger. But honestly, I got stuck on that clue for a while! I kept thinking of other countries and even tossed around names like Chad and Mali without connecting the dots. When I finally realized it was the combo of those two, it felt like a light bulb moment. The Word Ladder was fun, but I tripped up on 'MOLT'—I thought it was a complete guess until I clued into the British English note about shedding a 'u'. I even mistakenly wrote down 'MALT' at first when I was aiming for 'MALT.' I’m glad I pushed through though, because reaching 'CHAD' felt like a victory. Puzzles like these really keep me on my toes!

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for February 26, 2026 (#667) is MALICHAD. The complete word ladder is: MALI → MALT → MOLT → MOAT → COAT → CHAT → CHAD.