Word Finder
Search 270,000+ words by starting letters, ending letters, or contained letters.
Related Word Tools
What Is a Word Finder?
A word finder is a tool that searches a dictionary for every word matching a set of letter constraints — starting letters, ending letters, contained letters, or word length. Unlike a simple word unscrambler (which finds words from a pool of letters), a word finder lets you specify the exact position of known letters, making it essential for Scrabble, crosswords, and Wordle.
SmartUnscramble's word finder searches a database of 270,000+ real English words. Results include the Scrabble point value for each word, so you can instantly identify the highest-scoring play available. The tool supports four filters simultaneously: Starts With, Ends With, Contains, and Length — which you can combine in any combination.
How to Use the Word Finder Filters
Enter a prefix to find all words beginning with those letters. Type "pre" to find PRESENT, PRESS, PRETTY, and hundreds more. Combine with a length filter to narrow results to a specific board position.
pre + length 6 → PREFER, PRETTY, PRESET
Enter a suffix to find words ending with specific letters. Type "tion" for MOTION, NATION, OPTION. Invaluable for crosswords where you know the last few letters from crossing answers.
tion + length 6 → NOTION, POTION, LOTION
Find words containing a specific letter sequence anywhere in the word. Type "qu" to find all words with QU — useful when you know a letter appears but not where. In Wordle, yellow letters are perfect for Contains searches.
contains "qu" + length 5 → QUEEN, QUICK, QUIET
Filter results to an exact word length. Essential for crosswords where blank count determines the answer length, and for Scrabble plays where board space is limited. Use "8+" for long-word searches.
length 7 + starts "st" → STATION, STORAGE, STAYING
Word Finder Uses by Game
Scrabble
Use Starts With + Length to find plays for specific board positions. Combine with Ends With when placing parallel to existing tiles. Check Scrabble scores on every result to find the highest-value play.
Scrabble Word Finder →Wordle
Yellow letters go in Contains, green letters go in Starts/Ends With based on their position. Use Length 5 to show only valid 5-letter Wordle answers. Combine all filters after your second or third guess to narrow the list to a handful of options.
Wordle Solver →Crossword Puzzles
Enter the pattern using known letters in Starts With and Ends With, then set Length to the exact blank count. For middle wildcards, use the Crossword Solver which accepts full ? patterns like C??SS.
Crossword Solver →Words With Friends
Similar to Scrabble — use Starts With and Ends With to find plays that fit between existing board tiles. Filter by length to match available board space. Words With Friends accepts many words Scrabble does not, so expect more results.
Words With Friends →Word Finder Tips & Strategies
Start with your rarest letter
If your letters include Q, Z, X, or J, filter by that letter first. Rare letters appear in far fewer words, so the result list shrinks fast — and in Scrabble those letters carry the biggest point values.
Combine filters instead of scanning long lists
One filter alone often returns hundreds of words. Stacking Starts With + Length, or Contains + Ends With, usually cuts the list to a dozen candidates you can scan in seconds.
Search one length at a time
Most word games reward specific lengths: 5 letters for Wordle, 7 for a Scrabble bingo, 4–6 for most Jumble clues. Set the exact length so every result is playable.
Look for common endings
When stuck, try Ends With -ED, -ER, -ING, or -S. English builds thousands of words from these suffixes, and they are the easiest plays to spot on a crowded Scrabble board.
Use the results to learn, not just to win
Skim unfamiliar words in the results and tap any word to see its definition page. Regular players build vocabulary fastest by reviewing the words they almost found.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Contains for positional letters
Contains only guarantees the letter appears somewhere in the word. If you know a letter’s exact position at the start or end, use Starts With or Ends With — you’ll get a far shorter, more accurate list.
Leaving the length filter empty
Without a length, a single-letter search can return thousands of words. Most games need a specific length, so set it first and add letter filters second.
Confusing this with a rack unscrambler
The Word Finder filters by position and content — it does not limit results to your available tiles. If you’re holding specific letters and need words buildable from them, use the Word Unscrambler instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the word finder work?
Enter any combination of starting letters, ending letters, contained letters, or word length and the tool queries 270,000+ real English words instantly. Results appear sorted by word length with Scrabble point values displayed for each match.
Can I search for words with specific letters in specific positions?
Yes. Use Starts With for letters at the beginning, Ends With for letters at the end, and Contains for letters that appear anywhere in the word. Combine all three filters at once for the most precise results — ideal for crossword fills with multiple known letters.
What is the difference between a word finder and a word unscrambler?
A word unscrambler takes a pool of letters and finds all words using some or all of them. A word finder takes positional constraints (starts with, ends with, contains) and finds matching words from the full dictionary. Use the unscrambler for Scrabble rack analysis; use the word finder when you know where specific letters fall.
Does the word finder show Scrabble scores?
Yes. Every result shows the Scrabble point value based on standard tile values. This lets you instantly identify the highest-scoring valid play without manually calculating each word.
Can I find words ending in a specific letter for Wordle?
Yes. Enter the letter in the Ends With field and set Length to 5. This instantly shows all 5-letter words ending in that letter — a fast way to narrow your Wordle guesses when you know the final position.
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