Home > Cryptic Clues > Anagram Clues
How Anagram Clues Work
Anagram clues are one of the most common and recognizable types in cryptic crosswords. In an anagram clue, the letters of one or more words in the clue are rearranged to form the answer. Every anagram clue contains three essential elements: a definition of the answer, the fodder (the letters to be rearranged), and an anagram indicator that signals the rearrangement.
Anagram indicators are words that suggest change, movement, disorder, or transformation. Common indicators include "twisted," "broken," "scrambled," "mixed," "dancing," "wild," "crazy," and hundreds more. Learning to spot these indicators is one of the most important skills for any cryptic crossword solver. The fodder — the letters to rearrange — will always contain exactly the right letters to spell the answer.
To solve an anagram clue, first identify the indicator word. Then look for the fodder nearby — these are the letters you need to rearrange. Finally, check your answer against the definition part of the clue, which is usually at the beginning or end. With practice, you will start to spot anagrams almost instantly.
See our complete list of anagram indicators →
Common Anagram Indicators
These indicator words frequently appear in anagram clues. Learning to spot them will help you identify this clue type quickly.
mixed (39)
scrambled (36)
twisted (31)
confused (30)
around (2)
broken (2)
wildly (1)
All Anagram Clues
All (141)
Easy (2)
Medium (139)
Hard (0)
Apr 1, 2026
Medium
"Pales twisted leaps (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEAPS
LEAPS is an anagram of 'pales'
Mar 31, 2026
Medium
"Lapse mixed sepal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SEPAL
SEPAL is an anagram of 'lapse'
Mar 30, 2026
Medium
"Pairs scrambled spare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SPARE
SPARE is an anagram of 'pairs'
Mar 29, 2026
Medium
"Cater confused trace (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TRACE
TRACE is an anagram of 'cater'
Mar 28, 2026
Medium
"React twisted crate (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CRATE
CRATE is an anagram of 'react'
Mar 27, 2026
Medium
"Stare mixed tares (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TARES
TARES is an anagram of 'stare'
Mar 26, 2026
Medium
"Rates scrambled tears (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TEARS
TEARS is an anagram of 'rates'
Mar 25, 2026
Medium
"Pears confused parse (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PARSE
PARSE is an anagram of 'pears'
Mar 24, 2026
Medium
"Spear twisted reaps (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
REAPS
REAPS is an anagram of 'spear'
Mar 23, 2026
Medium
"Pares mixed spare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SPARE
SPARE is an anagram of 'pares'
Mar 22, 2026
Medium
"Earth scrambled heart (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
HEART
HEART is an anagram of 'earth'
Mar 21, 2026
Medium
"Silent confused listen (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LISTEN
LISTEN is an anagram of 'silent'
Mar 20, 2026
Medium
"Lemon mixed melon (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MELON
MELON is an anagram of 'lemon'
Mar 19, 2026
Medium
"Early scrambled relay (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
RELAY
RELAY is an anagram of 'early'
Mar 18, 2026
Medium
"Beats twisted beast (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BEAST
BEAST is an anagram of 'beats'
Mar 17, 2026
Medium
"Stream mixed master (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MASTER
MASTER is an anagram of 'stream'
Mar 16, 2026
Medium
"Leaps scrambled asleep (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ASLEEP
ASLEEP contains letters from 'leaps' rearranged
Mar 15, 2026
Medium
"Lives confused Elvis (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ELVIS
ELVIS is an anagram of 'lives'
Mar 14, 2026
Medium
"Eager mixed agree (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
AGREE
AGREE is an anagram of 'eager'
Mar 13, 2026
Medium
"Tales twisted stale (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STALE
STALE is an anagram of 'tales'
Dec 22, 2025
Medium
"Least twisted tales (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEAST
LEAST is an anagram of 'tales'
Dec 21, 2025
Medium
"Beach scrambled chabe (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BEACH
Not a valid anagram - 'chabe' isn't a word
Dec 20, 2025
Medium
"Teach confused cheat (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TEACH
TEACH is an anagram of 'cheat'
Dec 19, 2025
Medium
"Reach mixed chare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
REACH
REACH is an anagram of 'chare'
Dec 18, 2025
Medium
"Peach scrambled cheap (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PEACH
PEACH is an anagram of 'cheap'
Dec 17, 2025
Medium
"Dream twisted armed (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DREAM
DREAM is an anagram of 'armed'
Dec 16, 2025
Medium
"Cream mixed crame (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CREAM
CREAM is an anagram of... wait 'crame' isn't a word
Dec 15, 2025
Medium
"Dance scrambled caned (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DANCE
DANCE is an anagram of 'caned'
Dec 14, 2025
Medium
"Angel confused glean (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ANGEL
ANGEL is an anagram of 'glean'
Dec 13, 2025
Medium
"Crate mixed trace (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CRATE
CRATE is an anagram of 'trace'
Dec 12, 2025
Medium
"Plate scrambled petal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PLATE
PLATE is an anagram of 'petal'
Dec 11, 2025
Medium
"Paste twisted tapes (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PASTE
PASTE is an anagram of 'tapes'
Dec 10, 2025
Medium
"Clean mixed lance (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CLEAN
CLEAN is an anagram of 'lance'
Dec 9, 2025
Medium
"Stone confused tones (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STONE
STONE is an anagram of 'tones'
Dec 8, 2025
Medium
"Break scrambled baker (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BREAK
BREAK is an anagram of 'baker'
Dec 7, 2025
Medium
"Heart mixed earth (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
HEART
HEART is an anagram of 'earth'
Dec 6, 2025
Medium
"Steal confused least (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STEAL
STEAL is an anagram of 'least' (missing a letter)
Dec 5, 2025
Medium
"Angry dog ran around (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ANGRY
Needs proper anagram construction
Dec 4, 2025
Medium
"Artist mixed tea (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TEASER
This needs work - TEASER isn't quite right
Dec 3, 2025
Medium
"Listen broken into stern (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SILENT
SILENT is an anagram of 'listen'
Oct 21, 2025
Medium
"Gather angel wildly (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
GLEAN
GLEAN is an anagram of ANGEL.
Oct 16, 2025
Easy
"Later alert scrambled (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LATER
LATER is an anagram of ALERT.
Aug 14, 2025
Medium
"Piles scrambled spiel (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SPIEL
SPIEL is an anagram of 'piles'
Aug 13, 2025
Medium
"Peals confused leaps (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEAPS
LEAPS is an anagram of 'peals'
Aug 12, 2025
Medium
"Paste twisted tapes (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TAPES
TAPES is an anagram of 'paste'
Aug 11, 2025
Medium
"Parse mixed pears (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PEARS
PEARS is an anagram of 'parse'
Aug 10, 2025
Medium
"Panes scrambled aspen (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ASPEN
ASPEN is an anagram of 'panes'
Aug 9, 2025
Medium
"Paler confused pearl (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PEARL
PEARL is an anagram of 'paler'
Aug 8, 2025
Medium
"Pager twisted grape (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
GRAPE
GRAPE is an anagram of 'pager'
Aug 7, 2025
Medium
"Nails mixed snail (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SNAIL
SNAIL is an anagram of 'nails'
Aug 6, 2025
Medium
"Motel scrambled metal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
METAL
METAL is an anagram of 'motel'
Aug 5, 2025
Medium
"Monks confused smoke (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SMOKE
SMOKE is an anagram of 'monks'
Aug 4, 2025
Medium
"Miner twisted inert (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
INERT
INERT is an anagram of 'miner'
Aug 3, 2025
Medium
"Miles mixed smile (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SMILE
SMILE is an anagram of 'miles'
Aug 2, 2025
Medium
"Merit scrambled timer (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TIMER
TIMER is an anagram of 'merit'
Aug 1, 2025
Medium
"Melon confused lemon (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEMON
LEMON is an anagram of 'melon'
Jul 31, 2025
Medium
"Maple twisted ample (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
AMPLE
AMPLE is an anagram of 'maple'
Jul 30, 2025
Medium
"Maker mixed break (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BREAK
BREAK is an anagram of 'maker'
Jul 29, 2025
Medium
"Loser scrambled roles (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ROLES
ROLES is an anagram of 'loser'
Jul 28, 2025
Medium
"Limes confused smile (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SMILE
SMILE is an anagram of 'limes'
Jul 27, 2025
Medium
"Lemon twisted melon (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MELON
MELON is an anagram of 'lemon'
Jul 26, 2025
Easy
"Lager mixed regal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
REGAL
REGAL is an anagram of 'lager'
Jun 25, 2025
Medium
"Penal scrambled plane (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PLANE
PLANE is an anagram of 'penal'
Jun 24, 2025
Medium
"Panel confused plane (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PLANE
PLANE is an anagram of 'panel'
Jun 23, 2025
Medium
"Ocean twisted canoe (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CANOE
CANOE is an anagram of 'ocean'
Jun 22, 2025
Medium
"Crane mixed caner (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CANER
CANER is an anagram of 'crane'
Apr 16, 2025
Medium
"Sonar twisted roans (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ROANS
ROANS is an anagram of 'sonar'
Apr 15, 2025
Medium
"Laced mixed decal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DECAL
DECAL is an anagram of 'laced'
Apr 14, 2025
Medium
"Cedar scrambled raced (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
RACED
RACED is an anagram of 'cedar'
Apr 13, 2025
Medium
"Dales confused deals (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DEALS
DEALS is an anagram of 'dales'
Apr 12, 2025
Medium
"Fires twisted riffs (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
RIFFS
RIFFS is an anagram of 'fires'
Apr 11, 2025
Medium
"Times mixed mites (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MITES
MITES is an anagram of 'times'
Apr 10, 2025
Medium
"Cares scrambled scare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SCARE
SCARE is an anagram of 'cares'
Apr 9, 2025
Medium
"Acres confused races (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
RACES
RACES is an anagram of 'acres'
Apr 8, 2025
Medium
"Ropes twisted pores (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PORES
PORES is an anagram of 'ropes'
Apr 7, 2025
Medium
"Coral mixed carol (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CAROL
CAROL is an anagram of 'coral'
Apr 6, 2025
Medium
"Crest scrambled carts (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CARTS
CARTS is an anagram of 'crest'
Apr 5, 2025
Medium
"Cheat confused teach (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CHEAT
CHEAT is an anagram of 'teach'
Apr 4, 2025
Medium
"Charm twisted march (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CHARM
CHARM is an anagram of 'march'
Apr 3, 2025
Medium
"Camel mixed clame (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CLAME
Not a valid word - needs fix
Apr 2, 2025
Medium
"Meals scrambled melds (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MELDS
MELDS is an anagram of 'meals'
Feb 15, 2025
Medium
"Petal confused pleat (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PLEAT
PLEAT is an anagram of 'petal'
Feb 14, 2025
Medium
"Meats twisted steam (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STEAM
STEAM is an anagram of 'meats'
Feb 13, 2025
Medium
"Slate mixed steal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STEAL
STEAL is an anagram of 'slate'
Feb 12, 2025
Medium
"Shore scrambled horse (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
HORSE
HORSE is an anagram of 'shore'
Feb 11, 2025
Medium
"Rains confused sarin (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SARIN
SARIN is an anagram of 'rains'
Feb 10, 2025
Medium
"Pines twisted snipe (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SNIPE
SNIPE is an anagram of 'pines'
Feb 9, 2025
Medium
"Outer mixed route (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ROUTE
ROUTE is an anagram of 'outer'
Feb 8, 2025
Medium
"Dusty scrambled study (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STUDY
STUDY is an anagram of 'dusty'
Feb 7, 2025
Medium
"Cause confused sauce (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SAUCE
SAUCE is an anagram of 'cause'
Feb 6, 2025
Medium
"Diner twisted reind (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
REIND
Not a valid word - needs fix
Feb 5, 2025
Medium
"Dealt mixed delta (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DEALT
DEALT is an anagram of 'delta'
Feb 4, 2025
Medium
"Dates scrambled stade (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DATES
DATES is an anagram of 'stade'
Feb 3, 2025
Medium
"Lemon confused melon (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEMON
LEMON is an anagram of 'melon'
Feb 2, 2025
Medium
"Cider twisted cried (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CIDER
CIDER is an anagram of 'cried'
Feb 1, 2025
Medium
"Cheap mixed peach (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CHEAP
CHEAP is an anagram of 'peach'
Jan 31, 2025
Medium
"Canoe scrambled ocean (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
OCEAN
OCEAN is an anagram of 'canoe'
Jan 30, 2025
Medium
"Brush confused shrub (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BRUSH
BRUSH is an anagram of 'shrub'
Jan 29, 2025
Medium
"Below twisted elbow (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BELOW
BELOW is an anagram of 'elbow'
Jan 28, 2025
Medium
"Grape mixed pager (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
GRAPE
GRAPE is an anagram of 'pager'
Jan 27, 2025
Medium
"Bread scrambled beard (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BREAD
BREAD is an anagram of 'beard'
Nov 7, 2024
Medium
"Pales twisted leaps (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEAPS
LEAPS is an anagram of 'pales'
Nov 6, 2024
Medium
"Lapse mixed sepal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SEPAL
SEPAL is an anagram of 'lapse'
Nov 5, 2024
Medium
"Pairs scrambled spare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SPARE
SPARE is an anagram of 'pairs'
Nov 4, 2024
Medium
"Cater confused trace (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TRACE
TRACE is an anagram of 'cater'
Nov 3, 2024
Medium
"React twisted crate (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CRATE
CRATE is an anagram of 'react'
Nov 2, 2024
Medium
"Stare mixed tares (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TARES
TARES is an anagram of 'stare'
Nov 1, 2024
Medium
"Rates scrambled tears (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TEARS
TEARS is an anagram of 'rates'
Oct 31, 2024
Medium
"Pears confused parse (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PARSE
PARSE is an anagram of 'pears'
Oct 30, 2024
Medium
"Spear twisted reaps (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
REAPS
REAPS is an anagram of 'spear'
Oct 29, 2024
Medium
"Pares mixed spare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SPARE
SPARE is an anagram of 'pares'
Oct 28, 2024
Medium
"Earth scrambled heart (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
HEART
HEART is an anagram of 'earth'
Oct 27, 2024
Medium
"Silent confused listen (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LISTEN
LISTEN is an anagram of 'silent'
Oct 26, 2024
Medium
"Lemon mixed melon (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MELON
MELON is an anagram of 'lemon'
Oct 25, 2024
Medium
"Early scrambled relay (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
RELAY
RELAY is an anagram of 'early'
Oct 24, 2024
Medium
"Beats twisted beast (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BEAST
BEAST is an anagram of 'beats'
Oct 23, 2024
Medium
"Stream mixed master (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
MASTER
MASTER is an anagram of 'stream'
Oct 22, 2024
Medium
"Leaps scrambled asleep (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ASLEEP
ASLEEP contains letters from 'leaps' rearranged
Oct 21, 2024
Medium
"Lives confused Elvis (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ELVIS
ELVIS is an anagram of 'lives'
Oct 20, 2024
Medium
"Eager mixed agree (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
AGREE
AGREE is an anagram of 'eager'
Oct 19, 2024
Medium
"Tales twisted stale (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STALE
STALE is an anagram of 'tales'
Jul 30, 2024
Medium
"Least twisted tales (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
LEAST
LEAST is an anagram of 'tales'
Jul 29, 2024
Medium
"Beach scrambled chabe (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BEACH
Not a valid anagram - 'chabe' isn't a word
Jul 28, 2024
Medium
"Teach confused cheat (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TEACH
TEACH is an anagram of 'cheat'
Jul 27, 2024
Medium
"Reach mixed chare (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
REACH
REACH is an anagram of 'chare'
Jul 26, 2024
Medium
"Peach scrambled cheap (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PEACH
PEACH is an anagram of 'cheap'
Jul 25, 2024
Medium
"Dream twisted armed (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DREAM
DREAM is an anagram of 'armed'
Jul 24, 2024
Medium
"Cream mixed crame (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CREAM
CREAM is an anagram of... wait 'crame' isn't a word
Jul 23, 2024
Medium
"Dance scrambled caned (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
DANCE
DANCE is an anagram of 'caned'
Jul 22, 2024
Medium
"Angel confused glean (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ANGEL
ANGEL is an anagram of 'glean'
Jul 21, 2024
Medium
"Crate mixed trace (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CRATE
CRATE is an anagram of 'trace'
Jul 20, 2024
Medium
"Plate scrambled petal (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PLATE
PLATE is an anagram of 'petal'
Jul 19, 2024
Medium
"Paste twisted tapes (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
PASTE
PASTE is an anagram of 'tapes'
Jul 18, 2024
Medium
"Clean mixed lance (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
CLEAN
CLEAN is an anagram of 'lance'
Jul 17, 2024
Medium
"Stone confused tones (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STONE
STONE is an anagram of 'tones'
Jul 16, 2024
Medium
"Break scrambled baker (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
BREAK
BREAK is an anagram of 'baker'
Jul 15, 2024
Medium
"Heart mixed earth (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
HEART
HEART is an anagram of 'earth'
Jul 14, 2024
Medium
"Steal confused least (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
STEAL
STEAL is an anagram of 'least' (missing a letter)
Jul 13, 2024
Medium
"Angry dog ran around (5)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
ANGRY
Needs proper anagram construction
Jul 12, 2024
Medium
"Artist mixed tea (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
TEASER
This needs work - TEASER isn't quite right
Jul 11, 2024
Medium
"Listen broken into stern (6)"
Reveal Answer & Explanation
SILENT
SILENT is an anagram of 'listen'
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