LinkedIn PinpointAnswer & Solution
LinkedIn Pinpoint 537 Answer
LINKEDIN PINPOINT
October 19, 2025
Waffle
Tire
Branding
Curling
Steam
As a specialist in the mechanics of the LinkedIn Pinpoint game, I’ve analyzed thousands of these puzzles. Today’s set was a masterclass in how a common noun can hide behind diverse industries—from the kitchen to the garage, and from the salon to the ranch. Let’s break down the logic behind this specific set of clues and see how the "iron" connection reveals itself.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When I first saw the clue "Waffle," my mind immediately jumped to breakfast. I was thinking about "Syrup," "Batter," or maybe even "Belgian." It’s a very specific starting point, but in Pinpoint, the first clue is often a "trap" that could lead you down several different paths. I considered "Grid" as a potential category, but I decided to wait for the second clue before making a guess.
The second clue, "Tire," changed the game entirely. "Waffle" and "Tire" don't seem to have much in common at first. You don't eat tires, and you don't drive on waffles. However, as an expert solver, I started looking for compound words or common suffixes. I thought about "Pressure" (tire pressure, but waffle pressure isn't a thing) and "Pump." Then it hit me: "Waffle Iron." I tested it against the second clue—"Tire Iron." It fit perfectly. A tire iron is that heavy metal tool you use to change a flat.
By the time "Branding" appeared as the third clue, I was already 90% certain. A branding iron is the classic tool used by ranchers. This confirmed that we weren't looking for a category of "things that are round" or "things with patterns," but specifically words that precede the word "iron." The connection was becoming rock solid.
Clues four and five, "Curling" and "Steam," were the final nails in the coffin. A curling iron is a staple in hair styling, and a steam iron is what we use to get wrinkles out of our clothes. Even if I had been stuck on the first two, "Steam" and "Curling" are such iconic "iron" pairings that the answer would have become obvious. The beauty of this puzzle was how it transitioned from a heavy automotive tool (Tire) to a delicate beauty tool (Curling), all linked by the same four-letter word.
Lessons Learned
Look for the "Tool" Connection: Many Pinpoint puzzles revolve around common household or industrial tools. When you see words like "Steam" or "Tire," ask yourself if they are part of a specific piece of equipment.
Don't Commit to the First Category: If you only saw "Waffle," you might have guessed "Breakfast." Always wait for the second or third clue to see if the theme shifts from a "category" (like food) to a "word association" (like words that share a suffix).
Think About Different Contexts: This puzzle spanned sports (Curling), automotive (Tire), and culinary (Waffle). Success in Pinpoint requires you to jump between different areas of knowledge quickly to find the common thread.
Verbs vs. Nouns: Notice how "Branding" and "Curling" can be verbs, while "Waffle" and "Tire" are primarily nouns. If you get stuck, try changing the part of speech of the clues in your head to see if a new connection pops up.
Expert Q&A
Why is 'Tire' included if a tire iron is a tool and not the tire itself?
The Pinpoint game logic relies on word associations where the clue is the first half of a common compound phrase. In this case, 'Tire' leads directly to 'Tire iron,' which is a ubiquitous automotive tool, fitting the pattern perfectly.
Could 'Grid' have been a valid answer for these clues?
While 'Waffle' and 'Tire' (treads) have grids, 'Curling' and 'Steam' do not. A valid Pinpoint answer must apply to all five clues consistently. 'Iron' is the only word that creates a recognizable phrase with every single clue provided.
Is 'Curling' referring to the sport or the hair styling tool?
In this puzzle, it actually works for both, though it most directly points to the 'Curling iron' used for hair. However, the heavy stones used in the sport of curling were historically referred to as 'irons' in some regions, though 'iron' as a prefix is most commonly associated with the beauty tool.
How do I distinguish between a 'Category' puzzle and a 'Word Association' puzzle?
A 'Category' puzzle features items that are all types of something (e.g., Apple, Banana, Cherry are 'Fruits'). A 'Word Association' puzzle, like today's, features words that all link to a specific keyword. If the clues seem unrelated in meaning (like Steam and Waffle), it’s almost certainly a word association puzzle.