How do I use the crossword helper?

Enter your known letters in the pattern field using ? or _ for unknown letters. For example, ?A?I? will find 5-letter words with A in position 2 and I in position 4. Optionally add a clue hint or select a topic to narrow results.

What wildcards can I use?

Use ? (question mark) or _ (underscore) to represent unknown letters. Both wildcards work the same way. For example, C?T matches CAT, COT, CUT, etc.

How do topic filters help?

Topic filters narrow results to words commonly associated with specific categories like animals, geography, sports, science, etc. This is especially useful when the crossword clue hints at a particular subject area.

Is the crossword helper free?

Yes! The crossword helper is completely free to use. No registration, no limits, and no payment required.

Can I use this for any crossword puzzle?

Yes! This tool works for any crossword puzzle - newspaper crosswords, online puzzles, cryptic crosswords, and more. It searches a comprehensive dictionary of English words.

Crossword Helper

Find crossword answers using letter patterns and clue hints

# of Letters or Pattern

Pattern	Result
`????`	is 4 letters long
`??G`	length 3, ends with G
`8`	length is 8
`94`	length is 13 (9+4)
`?A4`	6 letters, 2nd is A

Use any punctuation for ?
Spaces in answers are ignored

?A?I? (pattern) • 5 (length) • ??G (ends with G) • ?A3 (5 letters, 2nd is A)

Clue Text (Optional)

Add keywords to narrow results. Example: "large cat" helps find TIGER, LION...

Results

Searching...

About Crossword Helper

Crossword Helper is a powerful tool designed to help you solve crossword puzzles. Enter a letter pattern with wildcards for unknown letters, add optional clue hints, and filter by topic to find the perfect answer. It's the ultimate crossword solving companion!

How to Use Crossword Helper

Step 1

Enter Pattern
Type known letters and use ? or _ for unknowns. Example: ?A?I? for 5-letter words.

Step 2

Add Clue Hint
Optionally enter keywords from the crossword clue to narrow down results.

Step 3

Select Topic
Choose a category if the clue hints at a specific subject area.

Step 4

Review Results
Browse matches sorted by relevance. Click any word to see its definition.

Pro Tips: Start with the pattern alone, then add clue hints if there are too many results. Common crossword answers often include words like ERA, ORE, ATE, and other short common words. For cryptic crosswords, focus on wordplay patterns rather than literal meanings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What wildcards can I use?
Use ? (question mark) or _ (underscore) for unknown letters. Both work the same way.
How do topic filters help?
Topics narrow results to words commonly associated with specific categories like animals, geography, science, etc.
What dictionaries does this use?
We use a comprehensive crossword dictionary with over 200,000 words including common crossword answers.

Can I search for phrases?
Currently single words only. For multi-word answers, search each word separately.
Why no results for my search?
Try removing the clue hint or topic filter. Also verify your pattern has the correct number of letters.
Is this tool free?
Yes! Crossword Helper is 100% free with no registration or limits required.

Benefits of Using Crossword Helper

Instant pattern matching
Learn new vocabulary
Comprehensive dictionary

Smart topic filtering
Works on any device
Unlimited free searches

Crossword Solving Resources

Word Tools

Word Finder - Find words by letters
Anagram Solver - Unscramble letters
Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Word definitions
Thesaurus.com - Synonyms and antonyms

More Puzzles

Crossword Puzzles - 3000+ free crosswords
Cryptic Crosswords - British-style puzzles
Lingle Word Game - Daily word puzzle
Trivia Games - Test your knowledge