Crossclimb #680 Answer – March 11, 2026

HARDBOIL

Answer

HARDBOIL

HARD
CARD
One of 54 in a deck with two jokers
CORD
You pull it to open a parachute
CORN
Food grown in ears
COIN
Invent, as a new word or phrase
COIL
Shape of a spring
BOIL

Combo Clue

A two-word phrase for a way to prepare an egg

📖 How I Solved It

So, I sat down to tackle puzzle #680, and let me tell you, it wasn't a walk in the park. The combo clue, 'A two-word phrase for a way to prepare an egg,' threw me off at first. I kept thinking of all sorts of egg dishes, but I didn't make the connection to 'HARDBOIL' right away. I tried something like 'SCRAMBLE,' which was totally wrong. The word ladder had me scratching my head too, especially with 'COIN'—I thought it was about money until I realized it meant to invent a phrase. I got stuck bouncing between 'CARD' and 'CORD' before finally seeing the full ladder to reach 'BOIL.' It was a relief when it all clicked, but man, it took longer than I'd like to admit!

💡 Tips for This Puzzle

❓ FAQ

The Crossclimb answer for March 11, 2026 (#680) is HARDBOIL. The complete word ladder is: HARD → CARD → CORD → CORN → COIN → COIL → BOIL.