MyAnagramSolver

Crossword Resources

Complete crossword solving guide: cryptic clue indicators, standard crossword strategies, and all tools for finding missing words.

Cryptic IndicatorsPosition Wildcards270K+ WordsFree Tools

Standard vs Cryptic Crosswords

Standard (American) crosswords: Each clue is a definition. The answer fits the definition and intersects correctly with other answers. Use our Missing Letter Finder: enter confirmed letters in position, ? for unknowns, filter by grid length. Cryptic (British) crosswords: Each clue has two parts — a definition AND wordplay. The wordplay often involves anagram indicators. Use our Crossword Anagram Helper to decode the wordplay part.

Anagram Indicator Words

In cryptic crosswords, these words signal anagram clues: MIXED, SCRAMBLED, CONFUSED, BROKEN, UPSET, CHANGED, ANEW, NOVEL, CRAZY, WILD, MOVING, REARRANGED, JUMBLED, TWISTED, REVISED, ALTERED, REFORMED, TRANSFORMED, IN DISARRAY, ODDLY, STRANGELY, IRREGULARLY, DISTURBED, SHAKEN, STIRRED. Recognizing these instantly is the most important cryptic crossword skill.

Crossword Tools

Missing Letter Finder Crossword Anagram Helper Crossword Solver Words Containing Letters

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the types of crossword clues?

Standard/American crosswords use definition clues. Cryptic/British crosswords combine a definition with wordplay (anagrams, reversals, homophones, hidden words). Each type requires a different solving approach.

What words signal an anagram in a cryptic clue?

Common anagram indicator words: MIXED, SCRAMBLED, CONFUSED, BROKEN, UPSET, ANEW, NOVEL, CRAZY, WILD, REARRANGED, JUMBLED, TWISTED, DISTURBED, ALTERED, REFORMED. Any of these signal that surrounding letters need rearranging.

How do I use a word finder for crosswords?

For standard crosswords: enter known letters in their positions and use ? for unknowns, filter to required word length. For cryptic crosswords: identify the anagram indicator, extract the letters, filter by answer length, match to the definition part of the clue.

What is a pangram in crosswords?

In crossword construction, a pangram is a grid that uses every letter of the alphabet at least once. In the NYT Spelling Bee, a pangram uses all 7 given letters in one word.