Count squares carefully
Answer length is one of the strongest constraints. Recount when nothing plausible appears.
LetterToolkit
Crossword Solver
Turn answer length and confirmed crossing letters into a focused list of candidates, then add letter rules when the pattern alone is too broad.
Crossword Solver
Match a crossword answer pattern
For seven letters beginning with S and ending with R, enter S?????R. Use ?, _ or . for unknown squares.
Solving method
Use the pattern to narrow, and the clue to decide
A crossword pattern solver handles spelling constraints, not clue meaning. Suppose a five-square answer has confirmed letters C in position one, O in position three and S in position five. Enter C?O?S, C_O_S or C.O.S. The results show dictionary words that fit those positions; the clue, crossings and puzzle style determine which candidate is actually correct.
Trust confirmed crossings
Add letters only when the crossing answer is reasonably secure. One wrong letter can eliminate the real solution.
Add broad letter clues last
Required letters mean those letters may appear anywhere. Starts with and Ends with are useful when clue structure gives you more than fixed crossing positions.
Pattern vs required letters
A pattern such as ?A?ER fixes A in position two, E in position four and R in position five. Required letters such as ST only say that S and T must appear somewhere in the answer. Keeping these constraints separate prevents accidental over-filtering.
Clue type still matters
Definitions, abbreviations, fill-in-the-blank clues and wordplay clues behave differently. The solver matches spelling constraints; it does not understand the clue's meaning, tense or theme.
Why a valid answer may be missing
Crosswords frequently use names, abbreviations, foreign words, variant spellings and puzzle-specific vocabulary. LetterToolkit uses a general word list, so the result set is a shortlist rather than an authoritative crossword database.
Can I share a crossword search?
Yes. Copy search link saves the current length, pattern and filters in the URL so the same search can be reopened.
Which symbols can I use for unknown letters?
Use ?, _ or . for unknown squares. The solver treats all three as wildcard positions.
Does the tool solve the clue itself?
No. It matches letter patterns and constraints. You still interpret the clue and choose the candidate that fits its meaning.
Read our crossword-solving tips for a fuller solving workflow.