Free Crossword Solver
Find crossword puzzle answers instantly. Enter letters you know and use ? for unknowns.
Works with NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, and all crossword puzzles
Use ? for unknown letters
Matching Words
Enter a pattern with at least 2 characters to search.
More Puzzle Tools
How to Use the Crossword Solver
Our free crossword puzzle solver helps you find answers when you're stuck. Use question marks (?) for letters you don't know yet, and enter any letters you've already filled in from crossing words.
Pattern Examples
P?TT?RN→ finds PATTERN??AT→ finds BEAT, BOAT, CHAT...ST???→ finds 5-letter words starting with ST???ING→ finds 6-letter words ending in ING
Works With All Crosswords
- New York Times Crossword
- LA Times Crossword
- Washington Post
- USA Today
- Wall Street Journal
- The Guardian, and more!
Crossword Solving Tips & Strategies
Start with Fill-in-the-Blank
These clues are usually the easiest. They give you a phrase with a missing word, making it simpler to guess.
Use Crossing Letters
Fill in easy clues first, then use the crossing letters to narrow down harder answers in our solver.
Look for Common Endings
Patterns like -TION, -ING, -NESS, -MENT, -ABLE, -ED, and -LY are extremely common in crossword answers.
Watch for Wordplay
Question marks in clues often indicate puns or wordplay. Clues in quotes suggest the answer is slang or informal.
Crossword Puzzle Types by Difficulty
Beginner: USA Today, Universal
Great for newcomers. Straightforward clues, common vocabulary, and smaller grids. Perfect for building crossword skills.
Intermediate: LA Times, Washington Post
More wordplay and cultural references. Thursday and Friday puzzles are noticeably harder than Monday and Tuesday.
Advanced: New York Times, Wall Street Journal
NYT puzzles increase in difficulty throughout the week. Saturday is hardest. Expect clever themes, obscure references, and tricky wordplay.
Common Crossword Words (Crosswordese)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the crossword solver work?
Enter your pattern using letters you know and ? for unknown letters. For example, 'C?T' finds CAT, COT, CUT, etc. Our solver searches through 178,000+ words to find all matches instantly.
What crossword puzzles does this work with?
Our crossword solver works with all crossword puzzles including the New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and any other crossword puzzle you're solving.
Is this crossword solver free to use?
Yes! Our crossword solver is 100% free with no registration required. Use it as many times as you need to solve your crossword puzzles.
What does the ? symbol mean?
The question mark (?) represents any unknown letter in your pattern. Use one ? for each letter you don't know. For example, '??AT' will find all 4-letter words ending in AT.
How do I solve a crossword clue?
Start by counting the letters in the answer (shown by the number of squares). Enter any letters you already know from crossing words, use ? for unknowns, then review the matching words. Consider the clue's wordplay - look for puns, anagrams, or double meanings.
What are the most common crossword answers?
Common crossword answers include short words with useful letters like AREA, ERA, ORE, ALE, ARIA, ALOE, EDEN, ERIE, OREO, and EPEE. Learning these 'crosswordese' words will help you solve puzzles faster.
Can I filter results by word length?
Yes! Use our Advanced Filters to narrow results by exact word length, starting letter, ending letter, or letters that must appear in the word.
Why isn't my crossword answer appearing?
Some crossword answers are proper nouns, abbreviations, or very obscure words that may not be in our dictionary. Try checking the crossing letters to make sure they're correct, or look for alternate interpretations of the clue.
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