Crossword Solver
Enter a pattern with ? or _ for unknown letters. Searches 270,000+ words.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Wrong pattern length
The pattern must have exactly one character per square — count the crossword blanks carefully. A missing ? returns words one letter too short, and the answer will never appear.
Trusting a crossing letter you have not verified
If a crossing word is itself a guess, a wrong letter locked into your pattern eliminates the correct answer. When results look wrong, replace your least-confident letter with ? and search again.
Ignoring the clue’s tense and number
Clues in past tense usually need -ED answers and plural clues need -S. If your pattern ends in a known letter that conflicts with the clue’s form, re-check the crossing entries.
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What Is a Crossword Solver?
A crossword solver finds every dictionary word that fits a specific letter pattern — known letters in fixed positions, unknown letters marked as wildcards. Unlike a word unscrambler (which rearranges a pool of letters), a crossword solver respects exact letter positions, making it the right tool when you already know some letters from crossing answers.
SmartUnscramble's crossword solver uses ? or _ as wildcards for unknown letters. Type your pattern, and it searches 270,000+ real English words to show every valid match — sorted alphabetically for quick scanning. An optional clue field nudges results toward words related to your hint.
How to Use the Pattern Search
CR???Type the letters you know, then add ? for each unknown. CR??? finds all 5-letter words starting with CR — CRANE, CROSS, CREST, CRISP, and more.
???LEPut ? at the beginning for unknowns, then type the letters you know at the end. ???LE finds TABLE, CABLE, MAPLE, FABLE — all 5-letter words ending in LE.
??OW?Place ? wherever the letter is unknown. ??OW? finds CROWD, BROWN, GROWN, FROWN — the pattern works for letters anywhere in the word.
C??SSCombine known letters in any positions. C??SS finds CLASS, CROSS, CHESS — perfect when you have confirmed letters from multiple crossing clues.
Pattern + clue wordAdd a word from the crossword clue in the Clue field. Results containing that word or related to it sort to the top, saving you from scanning the full match list.
Crossword Solving Strategies
Fill the short answers first
3- and 4-letter answers are the fastest to confirm. Solving them locks in crossing letters for longer, harder clues — your pattern for a 9-letter answer may already be half-filled once you solve the words around it.
Use letter frequency
English words favor E, A, R, I, O, T, N, S. When you have a pattern like ??A?E, the missing letters are most likely consonants like T, M, C, or P. This narrows guesses before you even search.
Count letters from the grid
Always count the exact number of blank squares. A 7-letter word looks similar to a 6-letter one in a small grid, but entering the wrong length will show zero matches. Double-check your count before searching.
Cross-check every answer
Once the solver gives you candidates, verify each one fits all crossing words. A word might match your pattern perfectly but create an impossible combination for a perpendicular clue — check both directions.
Try the clue field for themes
NYT Thursday and Sunday puzzles often have theme answers. If you suspect a themed answer, type a theme-related word in the Clue field — it surfaces thematic matches faster than scrolling through all pattern hits.
Work from unique letters
Patterns containing Q, X, Z, or J dramatically narrow results. A pattern like ??X?? only has a handful of valid answers. Start your search from the highest-value, rarest letters to eliminate possibilities fastest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enter a crossword pattern?
Type the letters you know in their exact positions, and use ? or _ for each unknown letter. For example, a 7-letter word where you know the first and fourth letters — say C and S — becomes C??S??? in the pattern field.
Does it work for the NYT crossword?
Yes. The solver searches 270,000+ words from a broad English dictionary. Most NYT crossword answers — including common proper nouns, abbreviations, and crossword-ese — appear in the results. The optional Clue field helps surface themed or unusual answers.
What is the difference between ? and _ wildcards?
Both ? and _ work identically as single-letter wildcards. Use whichever is more comfortable to type. Each symbol represents exactly one unknown letter — if your pattern needs three unknowns, use ???.
Can it solve cryptic crosswords?
The solver works on the letter pattern part of a cryptic clue — once you know roughly how many letters and what pattern is likely, entering it here reveals candidates. Cryptic wordplay (anagram indicators, hidden words, reversals) requires manual solving first.
Why are some words missing from results?
Results depend on the pattern you enter. If a word you expect is not showing, check that your pattern length matches the exact number of squares in your grid, and that known letters are in the correct positions. A single off-by-one error hides all matches.
Can I use it for other word puzzles?
Yes. The pattern search works for any puzzle where you know some letters in fixed positions — including Wordle (after guessing green letters), word wheels, and spelling bees. Anywhere a positional letter pattern needs to be matched, this tool helps.
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