crossword solver
Missing Letters Solver
Find words from known letters and ? blanks when part of the answer is missing. Use the controls below and get usable answers without leaving the page.
Use ? for every missing position, such as ??a?e or c?a??. Not sure what to enter? Use the Sample button to load a realistic puzzle.
Enter letters or a pattern, or click Sample to see how this tool narrows a real puzzle.
Use this missing letters solver when part of a word is known and the blank positions are the problem. It is useful for crosswords, fill-in-the-blank puzzles, word games, and clue lists where you know the shape but not every letter.
Enter the blanks first
Use ? for each missing position. For example, c?a?? means a five-letter word with c in position one and a in position three. A complete pattern is stronger than a loose letter list because it tells the solver exactly where letters must land.
Narrow the candidate list
- Add contains when a letter is confirmed but the position is unknown.
- Add starts with or ends with when the edge of the answer is fixed.
- Add exclude when a crossing proves a letter cannot appear.
- Leave exact-letter mode off unless every available letter must be used.
- Sort through the shortest matching group first when the puzzle gives a fixed answer length.
Match candidates back to the clue
The tool cannot understand every clue. It returns words that fit the letters and filters. After that, use the clue meaning, crossing letters, tense, plural form, and theme to choose the answer.
Similar tools
Use the Crossword Solver when the clue matters most. Use the Word Solver when you have loose letters. Use the 5 Letter Word Finder for five-letter games and fixed-length puzzles.