Solve crossword clues instantly with our comprehensive database and intelligent matching system
Use ? for unknown letters, _ for spaces
1. Enter the crossword clue
2. Add letter pattern if known
3. Set additional filters
4. Get ranked solutions
P?ZZ?E - 6 letters, starts with P
??A?? - 5 letters, A in middle
C?T - 3 letters, starts C, ends T
• Look for wordplay in clues
• Consider multiple meanings
• Check crossing letters
• Think about abbreviations
Use the NYT Solvers crossword solver to explore possible answers using a clue, known letters, or a letter pattern.
Enter the information you have, narrow the matches, and get back to your puzzle with less guesswork. Whether you are working through a daily crossword or a casual word puzzle, the tool can help you investigate answers and check your thinking.
Start with the details you already know. You can search with a clue, add the letters that fit in your grid, or use a pattern with placeholders for unknown letters. The more accurate information you provide, the more focused your results can be.
Type the crossword clue into the search field. Include meaningful wording from the clue, and check spelling before submitting.
If you have filled in some crossing answers, enter those letters in their correct positions. Leave unknown spaces blank or use the wildcard format supported by the tool.
When the puzzle gives you a specific number of squares, use the available length option to narrow the possible matches.
Compare the suggested words with the clue, the number of squares, and the letters already in your grid. Treat results as possibilities to evaluate, rather than guaranteed answers.
If no result fits, revisit the letters supplied by intersecting words. A single incorrect crossing answer can prevent a valid match.
Known letters can make a difficult clue easier to investigate. Enter each confirmed letter in its exact position and mark the remaining spaces as unknown using the pattern format accepted by the solver. For example, a five-letter answer with P in the first position and E at the end could be represented as P???E. Use the clue and answer length alongside the pattern to compare possible matches.
A letter pattern is most useful when it comes from reliable crossing answers. If several suggestions appear, compare their meanings with the clue and consider common crossword conventions such as abbreviations, alternate spellings, plurals, and wordplay.
Crossword clues can rely on synonyms, concise definitions, puns, abbreviations, and indirect wording. A solver gives you another way to explore the possibilities when a clue does not immediately make sense. Use it to check a promising answer, investigate a pattern, or get ideas when you are stuck.
Clue-based searching: Look for possible answers using the wording of the clue.
Letter-pattern support: Use letters already confirmed in the puzzle to narrow the search, where supported by the tool.
Answer-length filtering: Reduce the result set by matching the number of squares in your grid, if the filter is available.
A practical solving aid: Use suggestions to support your own reasoning and verify them against crossing entries.
Read the clue literally first. Look for a direct definition before assuming the clue uses wordplay.
Check the answer length. The number of squares is a useful constraint and can eliminate many unrelated words.
Use crossing letters carefully. Confirm intersecting answers before relying on their letters.
Consider clue grammar. A plural clue may point to a plural answer, while verb tense and part of speech can also matter.
Watch for abbreviations and wordplay. Some puzzles use shortened forms, puns, double meanings, or other conventions.
Treat suggestions as candidates. A matching word is not necessarily correct. Confirm that it fits both the clue and the grid.
A crossword solver is an online tool that helps you find possible answers to crossword clues. Depending on its features, it may use clue text, known letters, answer length, or a letter pattern to produce suggestions.
Enter the clue and place each known letter in its correct position. Mark the unknown spaces using the wildcard format supported by the tool, then compare the suggestions with the clue and crossing answers.
Yes, when the tool supports letter patterns. Enter the letters you know and use placeholders for the missing positions. Check the interface for the accepted wildcard symbol.
Enter the clue in the search field. If available, add the answer length and any confirmed letters to make the results more specific.
Many crossword clues have more than one plausible interpretation. Answer length, crossing letters, clue grammar, and puzzle context help distinguish the best-fitting candidate.
Check the clue for typos, confirm the answer length, and review the letters taken from crossing words. Try a shorter or more distinctive part of the clue if the search supports it.
No. A solver provides possible matches, and the correct answer depends on the puzzle’s wording, grid, and conventions. Verify suggestions against the crossing entries before using them.
NYT Solvers is an independent puzzle-help website and is not an official service of The New York Times. The New York Times name and related marks belong to their respective owner.