Hard to chew, like low-quality meat

TOUGH is the answer to "Hard to chew, like low-quality meat" in LinkedIn Crossclimb on Sunday, September 13, 2026. It has five letters and sits on rung 4 of 5.

"Hard to chew, like low-quality meat" answer

The answer for Sunday's puzzle is:

TOUGH

The rest of the ladder at the top of the page stays hidden until you tap a rung, so you can check this word without giving away the others.

Why TOUGH fits

If you've already solved ROUGH, change its first letter from R to T. Coming from TOUCH instead, swap its fourth letter, C, for a G. Either way, you end up at TOUGH.

The full ladder for September 13, 2026

Here's every word from that day, with TOUGH marked.

Other clues from the September 13 Crossclimb

The other four clues from that day, each linked to its own page:

• Awaken, or stir to action → ROUSE
• Cosmetics purchase for the cheeks → ROUGE
• ___ and tumble (turbulent) → ROUGH
• Affect one's heartstrings → TOUCH

For the whole solution in one place, top and bottom words included, see the September 13 Crossclimb answers. Today's puzzle is on the main Crossclimb page.

About LinkedIn Crossclimb

Crossclimb is LinkedIn's daily word-ladder game. You answer short trivia clues, then put the words in order so each one differs from the next by a single letter; getting that right unlocks the top and bottom words. A new ladder goes live at midnight Pacific (3 a.m. Eastern), and it's free to play on LinkedIn.

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