Crossword Clue Solver

Stuck on a crossword clue? Get help solving crossword puzzles with pattern matching and clue analysis.

Use Our Pattern Matcher

If you know some letters in the answer, use our Advanced Word Finder to find words matching your pattern:

Advanced Word Finder โ†’
Example:

For "_ A _ _ L E" (6 letters, 2nd is A, 6th is E), use the pattern matcher with those constraints.

Crossword Solving Strategies

๐ŸŽฏ Fill in the Blanks First

Start with answers you know for certain. These crossing letters help solve adjacent clues.

๐Ÿ“š Learn Common Crossword Words

Words like AREA, ARIA, ERIE, OREO appear frequently. Memorize common 3-4 letter words.

๐Ÿ” Look for Clue Keywords

"Maybe" often indicates a question mark answer. "Abbr." means abbreviation. "Var." means variant spelling.

๐ŸŽจ Think Laterally

Crossword clues often use wordplay, puns, or misdirection. Consider multiple meanings.

Common Crossword Words

3-Letter Words

ACE
AGE
ALE
APE
ARE
ATE
EAR
EEL
ERA
ERE
ERR
ORE

4-Letter Words

ABLE
AREA
ARIA
ALOE
ANTE
EASE
EDEN
EMIT
ERIE
EROS
OLEO
OREO

Vowel-Heavy

AIDE
AURA
AUTO
IDEA
IOTA
OBOE
OLIO
EPEE
AREA
AQUA

Understanding Clue Types

๐Ÿ“– Definition Clues

Straightforward synonyms or definitions

Example: "Feline pet" = CAT

๐ŸŽญ Fill-in-the-Blank

Complete a phrase or title

Example: "___ and Peace" = WAR

โ“ Question Clues

Clue phrased as a question

Example: "What cats chase?" = MICE

๐Ÿ”ค Abbreviation Clues

Marked with "Abbr." or similar

Example: "Doctor (abbr.)" = DR

๐ŸŽช Cryptic/Wordplay

Uses puns, anagrams, or misdirection

Example: "Sound from a mouse" = CLICK

NYT Crossword Difficulty by Day

Monday
Easiest - straightforward clues
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Tuesday-Wednesday
Moderate difficulty
๐Ÿค”
Thursday
Tricky - often has a gimmick
๐Ÿคจ
Friday-Saturday
Hardest - obscure clues & wordplay
๐Ÿ˜ฐ
Sunday
Large grid, Thursday difficulty
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