✏️ Crossword Clue Solver
Type a clue, add a letter pattern or answer length — get instant answers from 1405+ curated clues.
1405 clues ready · 1,060 words (upgrading…)
Use _ or ? for unknowns
Popular Crossword Clues
How to Use the Crossword Solver
Enter the clue exactly as it appears in your crossword. The solver searches 1405+ common clue patterns and finds direct matches first.
Add a pattern using known letters. Use _ for unknown positions — e.g. S__NE for a 5-letter word starting with S and ending in NE.
Enter the length if you know how many letters the answer has. Combining clue + length dramatically narrows results.
Answers shown in blue matched both the clue database and your pattern — these are the most confident results. White chips matched only one source.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the crossword clue solver find answers?
It searches two sources at once: a curated database of thousands of common crossword clues (matching your exact clue text or close variants), and a full dictionary pattern-match against any letter pattern or word length you provide. Answers that satisfy both are shown first as the highest-confidence results.
What do I do if my exact clue isn't in the database?
Try entering just the key word from the clue instead of the full sentence — for example, use "river" instead of "French river, maybe". You can also add a letter pattern or answer length to narrow results using the dictionary search even without a database match.
How do I use the letter pattern field?
Use an underscore (_) for each unknown letter. For example, if you know a 5-letter answer starts with S and ends with NE, enter S__NE. Combine this with the clue text for the most accurate results.
Does this work for cryptic crossword clues?
It's built primarily for standard (quick/American-style) crossword clues rather than cryptic clues, which rely on wordplay, anagrams, and hidden words. For cryptic clues, try isolating the definition part of the clue (usually at the start or end) and searching that alone.
Which crossword publications does the clue database cover?
The database is built from clue patterns that recur frequently across major American and syndicated crosswords — covering geography, general knowledge, wordplay, and pop culture clues that show up in many different puzzles rather than clues unique to one specific publication.
About This Crossword Clue Solver
The ClueSolver crossword solver uses a two-phase approach. First it searches a curated database of 1405+ common crossword clues — covering geography, science, literature, sports, and general knowledge clues that appear repeatedly across major crossword publications. Second, it pattern-matches the full English dictionary against your letter constraints.
When both phases return results, the solver prioritises intersection answers — words that satisfy both the clue database and your letter pattern. These are displayed first and are the highest-confidence answers.
Common Crossword Clue Types
Definition clues: Straightforward synonym — "Angry" → IRE, IRATE, LIVID
Abbreviation clues: Clue ends in "abbr." or contains "in short" — "Doctor, briefly" → DR, MD
Foreign word clues: "French friend" → AMI, "Spanish yes" → SI
Wordplay/pun clues: Question mark at end signals a twist — "Drops off?" → NAPS
Fill-in-the-blank: "___ of the Flies" → LORD