When you know the length of a crossword answer and some of its letters, this solver lists every word in its list that fits. Type the pattern with a question mark for each empty square, and optionally say which letters must appear somewhere or can't appear in the gaps. It doesn't read clues; it narrows down spellings, which is often all you need once a couple of crossing answers are in. It's equally handy for word ladders, puzzle design and any game where you know a word's shape.
Writing a pattern
One character per square. Known letters as themselves; unknown squares as ?, _ or .. The pattern's length is the answer's length, shown under the box as you type.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A–Z | This square is that letter |
| ? _ . * | Any one letter (an empty square) |
| Must include | These letters appear somewhere in the word |
| Exclude | These letters can't fill the empty squares |
Worked patterns
Every count below was computed from the list this site uses:
| Pattern | Filters | What it means | Matches | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
?A?E | – | four letters, A second, E last | 128 | BABE, BADE and BAKE |
????ING | – | seven letters ending in ING | 1,514 | ABASING, ABATING and ABIDING |
Q???? | exclude U | five-letter Q words without a U in the gaps | 3 | QAIDS, QANAT and QOPHS |
C?O?S | – | five letters: C, gap, O, gap, S | 18 | CHOPS, CHOWS and CIONS |
C?O?S | include R | the same, but must contain an R | 4 | CROCS, CROPS and CROSS |
????? | include XZ | any five letters containing both X and Z | 1 | ZAXES |
S???E | exclude AEIOU | S _ _ _ E with no other vowels | 2 | SLYPE and STYLE |
??GHT | – | five letters ending in GHT | 14 | AUGHT, BIGHT and DIGHT |
The Q pattern finds QAIDS, QANAT and QOPHS: five-letter Q words with no U in the open squares.
How to use it
- Count the squares and type the pattern, using a question mark for each one you don't know.
- If a crossing clue tells you a letter is in the answer but not where, add it to Must include.
- If you've ruled letters out, add them to Exclude.
- Press Search. Tap any result for its definition.
Using the extra filters
Must include is for letters you know are in the answer but not where, from a crossing clue you half-remember. Exclude removes letters from the empty squares only, so a letter you've already placed is never excluded.
Reading the results
The count shows how many words fit; up to 800 are listed alphabetically. If you see hundreds, fill in another crossing letter before searching again.
Common mistakes
- Miscounting squares. Check the length shown under the box against the grid.
- Phrases. Answers with spaces, like phrases, aren't supported as such. Enter all the letters without the gap; multi-word answers will only match if the joined form is in the list, which is rare.
- Proper nouns. Names of people and places aren't in the word list, so crossword answers like those won't be found.
Limits and accuracy
Words come from the open ENABLE word list. Different games use different dictionaries, so always check the rules of your game. Crossword answers often include names, abbreviations and phrases, which a word list doesn't contain. Use the results to test ideas, then check them against the clue.
Privacy
Patterns are matched in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to Letterpile.
Frequently asked questions
Which characters stand for an unknown letter?
What's the difference between Must include and Exclude?
Can it solve the clue for me?
Why isn't a name or abbreviation found?
How long can a pattern be?
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