Crossword Solver

How to Use the Crossword Solver

Step 1 — Select the Word Length

Choose how many letters the answer has from the dropdown menu. Crossword grids tell you the answer length by counting the number of white squares in the across or down entry. Our solver supports words from 3 to 15 letters long.

Step 2 — Enter Known Letters

Type any letters you already know from crossing words. Each box represents one position. If you know the second letter is A and the fourth letter is E, type A in box 2 and E in box 4. Leave unknown positions empty — they default to ? (any letter).

Step 3 — Review Results

Click "Search Pattern" and browse the matching words. Results are sorted alphabetically. If too many results appear, add more known letters from crossing words to narrow the list. If no results appear, double-check your letters or try changing the word length.

Tips for Better Results

The more letters you fill in, the fewer matches you get — and the more useful each result becomes. Even one confirmed crossing letter dramatically reduces the possible answers. If you are stuck, solve a perpendicular clue first to get a crossing letter, then return to the solver.

Crossword Solving Strategies

Start with Short Words (3-4 Letters)

Shorter answers have fewer possible words and are often easier clues. Solving them first gives you crossing letters for longer answers. Common 3-letter crossword answers include ERA, ORE, ALE, IRE, ODE, AWE, and OAR. Memorizing the most frequent short fills gives you an immediate advantage.

Look for Theme Answers First

Most crossword puzzles (except Friday and Saturday NYT puzzles) have a theme. Theme answers are the longest entries and usually span the grid. Once you identify the theme, it becomes easier to guess theme answers even with few crossing letters. Read the puzzle title if one is given — it often hints at the theme.

Use Crossing Letters Strategically

Every letter in a crossword sits at the intersection of an across and a down word. This means solving one word gives you a free letter in every perpendicular word it crosses. Prioritize solving words that cross many other entries — this creates a cascade of revealed letters that unlocks large sections of the grid.

50 Most Common Crossword Fill Words

Crossword constructors reuse certain words far more than others because their letter patterns (lots of vowels, common consonants) work well in grids. Knowing these gives you an edge:

NYT Crossword Difficulty by Day

The New York Times crossword follows a strict weekly difficulty progression. Knowing which day you are solving helps set expectations and adjust your strategy.

Monday — Easiest

Monday puzzles use straightforward clues and common vocabulary. They are designed for beginners and can typically be solved in 5-10 minutes by experienced solvers. Grid entries avoid obscure words and tricky wordplay.

Tuesday and Wednesday — Moderate

Difficulty increases slightly each day. Clues become more ambiguous, vocabulary expands, and misdirection starts appearing. You might encounter puns, less common definitions, or clues that require lateral thinking.

Thursday — Trick Day

Thursday is the wildcard. Puzzles often feature gimmicks: rebuses (multiple letters in one square), unusual grid shapes, circled letters spelling a hidden message, or clues that break conventional rules. Expect the unexpected on Thursdays.

Friday and Saturday — Hardest

These are themeless puzzles with the most challenging clues. Vocabulary is advanced, clue misdirection is heavy, and there are no theme answers to help guide you. Many experienced solvers consider Saturday the peak difficulty of the week.

Sunday — Large Grid, Medium Difficulty

Sunday puzzles use a larger 21×21 grid (versus the standard 15×15) and have a theme. Despite their size, difficulty is roughly equivalent to Wednesday or Thursday. They take longer simply because of the larger grid.

Types of Crossword Puzzles

American-Style Crosswords

The most common format worldwide. Grids are symmetrical (usually 180° rotational symmetry), all letters are checked (every letter appears in both an across and a down word), and clues are definitional. The NYT, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today all publish American-style crosswords.

British-Style Cryptic Crosswords

Cryptic crosswords use wordplay clues instead of straight definitions. Each clue contains both a definition and a wordplay element (anagram, hidden word, charade, etc.). Grids have fewer checked letters and more unkeyed squares. Try our Cryptic Crossword Solver for these puzzles, or learn the basics in our Beginner's Guide to Cryptic Crosswords.

Mini and Midi Crosswords

The NYT Mini Crossword uses a 5×5 grid with simple clues — perfect for a quick puzzle break. The newer Midi Crossword uses a 9×9 grid, bridging the gap between the Mini and the full-size puzzle. Both are free to play daily.

Themed vs Themeless

Themed puzzles have a set of related long answers plus a title or reveal entry. Themeless puzzles (Friday and Saturday in the NYT) have no thematic constraint, allowing constructors to fill the grid with more interesting vocabulary and harder clues.

Common Crossword Abbreviations

Crossword clues frequently use abbreviations. When a clue ends with "Abbr." or contains abbreviated words, the answer is also abbreviated. Here are the most common ones: