What is the answer to LinkedIn Pinpoint #659?
The answer is Compound Words: pinball, pinpoint, pinwheel, pinhole, pin the tail.
Permanent Pinpoint answer & analysis (Pinpoint Today archive)
Published on 02/18/2026
Updated on 02/18/2026
This Pinpoint answer guide asks what shared idea links Ball, Point, Wheel, Hole, and The tail on the donkey. Follow the spoiler-safe hints one by one, then see how each clue clicks into the final answer.
Hover (desktop) or tap (mobile) each clue before you reveal the Pinpoint answer
Detailed Pinpoint answer breakdown continues just below - keep scrolling
Today's Pinpoint puzzle presents a fascinating exercise in word associations and common phrases. The clues seem disconnected at first - from sporting equipment to geometric concepts, and even a party game reference. However, there's a subtle connector that ties these seemingly random words together.
Each clue serves as the second half of a compound formation, sharing a common prefix that transforms their meanings into familiar terms and everyday expressions.
I started by listing each word separately, trying to spot any obvious categories or themes.
Sports equipment?
Games?
Nothing seemed to connect them all.
Looking at 'Ball' and 'Point', I wondered about writing implements, but that didn't fit the others.
Then I noticed something about 'Point' - it could pair with another word to form something new.
Suddenly it hit me - these words all commonly follow another word!
Testing my theory with 'pin', everything fell into place perfectly.
Each clue completed a common word or phrase when 'pin' was added before it.
The party game reference to 'tail on the donkey' was the final confirmation I needed.
The puzzle's answer reveals that each clue forms a common word or phrase when preceded by 'pin'.
Ball becomes pinball, Point becomes pinpoint, Wheel becomes pinwheel, Hole becomes pinhole, and 'The tail on the donkey' references the game 'pin The tail on the donkey'.
Today's Pinpoint answer focuses on words that follow 'pin' to create common terms and phrases.
Each clue completes a familiar compound word or expression when combined with this prefix.
The answer was Words that come after 'pin'.
Words that come after 'pin'
| Clue | Early read | Resolved read | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball | Same first broad read as the rest of the board | "'pin' Ball" | Pinball (Pin + Game): An arcade game where players score points by manipulating a steel ball |
| Point | Same first broad read as the rest of the board | "'pin' Point" | Pinpoint (Pin + Location): To locate or identify with extreme precision |
| Wheel | Same first broad read as the rest of the board | "'pin' Wheel" | Pinwheel (Pin + Toy): A spinning toy or mechanical device that rotates on a pin axis |
| Hole | Same first broad read as the rest of the board | "'pin' Hole" | Pinhole (Pin + Opening): A tiny hole, often made by a pin |
| The tail on the donkey | Same first broad read as the rest of the board | "'pin' The tail on the donkey" | Pin the tail (Pin + Game): A party game where blindfolded players attempt to attach a paper tail to a donkey picture |
Consider words as building blocks
Words can serve as components of larger terms or phrases.
Look for common prefixes or suffixes
Many puzzles use word patterns where multiple terms share the same beginning or ending.
Pay attention to everyday phrases
Common expressions and games can provide important context clues.
The answer is Compound Words: pinball, pinpoint, pinwheel, pinhole, pin the tail.
Each clue forms a common word or phrase when preceded by 'pin'.
Yes, each combination creates a widely recognized word or phrase in English.