Word Finder
Find words matching a pattern using wildcards — perfect for crossword clues and word games
Free · Instant · Private — runs in your browser
Use ? for exactly one unknown letter and * for any number of letters. Handy for crosswords.
How the Word Finder works
The Word Finder matches your text against a built-in dictionary of English words using simple wildcards. Use a question mark (?) to stand in for any single letter, and an asterisk (*) to stand in for any number of letters. For example, “c?t” matches “cat”, “cot”, and “cut”, while “plan*” matches “plan”, “planet”, and “planner”. It is the fastest way to crack a crossword clue or fill in a word game rack.
Every search is performed locally in your browser, so it works offline and keeps your input private. If you have a full set of jumbled letters instead of a pattern, the Word Unscrambler will find every word that can be made from them; if you want every full rearrangement of a word, use the Anagram Solver.
Want to learn more?
Learn how wildcard pattern matching works, how to use ? and * to crack crossword clues, and strategies for getting the right word from a partial pattern.
Read: How to Use Wildcards to Find WordsThe Word Unscrambler is our flagship tool — type any jumble of letters and instantly reveal every valid word hidden inside, sorted by length. It’s the fastest way to solve Scrabble racks, Words With Friends tiles, and crossword clues.