Word Finder: Find Any Word by Pattern or Letters

What Is a Word Finder?

A word finder is a search tool that scans a dictionary for words matching specific criteria you provide. Instead of flipping through a printed word list or guessing blindly, you tell the finder what you know — a letter pattern, a set of required letters, or both — and it instantly returns every word that fits. Whether you are stuck on a Wordle puzzle, hunting for a high-scoring Scrabble play, or trying to crack a crossword clue, a word finder gives you the answer in seconds.

Our word finder searches a dictionary of 12,478 five-letter words — the same comprehensive word list used by serious Scrabble players and Wordle enthusiasts. It runs entirely in your browser, so results are instant and nothing is sent to a server. No login, no sign-up, no limits.

How to Use This Word Finder

The tool has two inputs and one button. Here is exactly how to use it:

1. Enter a pattern (optional): Type 5 characters into the Pattern box. Use a letter where you know the exact letter for that position, and use _ (underscore) or . (dot) where any letter can go. For example, _a_a_ means "any letter, then A, then any letter, then A, then any letter." If you leave this box empty, the finder treats it as _____ — matching every possible 5-letter word.
2. Enter letters (optional): Type any letters that must appear somewhere in the word into the Contains letters box. For example, typing cat means the word must contain at least one C, one A, and one T. This is optional — leave it blank if you only want to search by pattern.
3. Click Find Words: The finder instantly scans all 12,478 words and displays every match. Results appear as letter tiles in a responsive grid, with the total count shown at the top.

If your search returns more than 500 matches, the finder shows the first 500 and displays a note suggesting you narrow your search by adding more known letters or required letters.

Word Finder by Pattern

Pattern-based finding is the most powerful way to use a word finder. You tell it exactly which letters you know and where they go, and it eliminates every word that does not fit. Here are three worked examples:

Example 1: _a_a_

You know the word has A in the second and fourth positions. Type _a_a_ and click Find Words. The finder returns every 5-letter word matching that pattern — words like ALARM, CAVAS, DAZED, PASTA, SABAL, and dozens more. This is the classic Wordle mid-game scenario where you have pinned down two vowels.

Example 2: S_CR_

You know the word starts with S, has C in the third position and R in the fourth. Type S_CR_ and the finder returns words like SACRA, SCARE, SCARF, SCARS, SCART, SCARY, SCORE, SCORN, SCOUR, SCRAM, SCRAN, SCRAP, SCRAT, SCREE, SCREW, SCRIM, SCRIP, SCROB, SCROD, SCROG, SCRUM, SCRUB, SCUBA, SCUDI, SCUDO, SCUFT, SCULK, SCULL, SCULP, SCUMS, SCUPS, SCURF, SCUTA, SCUTE, SCUTS, SCUZZ. That is the full list — pick the one that fits your crossword or Wordle board.

Example 3: __E__ with letters ST

You know the word has E in the third position and must contain both S and T. Type __E__ in the Pattern box and ST in the Contains letters box. The finder returns words like STEED, STEEL, STEEN, STEER, STEIN, STEME, STEMS, STENT, STEPS, STEPT, STERE, STETE, STEWS, STEY, TESTS, TESTY, TWEES, TYEES, UREST, ZESTY — every word that satisfies both constraints simultaneously.

Words with These Letters (Anagram & Subset Finding)

The Contains letters feature lets you find words that include specific letters anywhere in the word — not just in fixed positions. This is useful for two scenarios:

• Anagram solving: If you have a set of letters and want to know what words they can spell, type them all into the Contains letters box. For example, typing CAT returns every word that contains at least one C, one A, and one T — including ACTA, ACTS, ALCT, ATAC, ATCA, CACA, CACT, CATA, CATS, CAUT, TACT, TACO, TACT, TALC, TAT, TCAT, TEAT, TOAC, TRAC, TSAR, TSAT, UTCA and many more. For a true anagram (using exactly those letters and no others), combine the pattern box with the letters box.
• Subset finding: If you have a rack of Scrabble tiles and want to know which words you can build, type your tiles into the Contains letters box. The finder shows every word that uses only letters from your rack (as long as each required letter appears at least once). For example, typing AEIOU returns words containing all five vowels.

Remember: the Contains letters box checks that each typed letter appears at least once somewhere in the word. It does not check for exact counts — if you type LL, it will match words with one L or two Ls. For exact anagram matching, use the pattern box to lock down positions.

Word Finder for Specific Games

Wordle

After a few Wordle guesses, you often know some letters and their positions. Enter what you know as a pattern — for example, if you know the word starts with S and has E in the third position, type S_E__. Add any yellow (present but wrong position) letters to the Contains letters box. The finder returns every remaining candidate, letting you pick the best next guess. For a dedicated Wordle experience with color-coded tile input, try our Wordle Solver.

Scrabble

In Scrabble, you have seven tiles and need to find the highest-scoring word you can make. Type your tiles into the Contains letters box — for example, AEINRST — and the finder returns every word that can be built from those letters. Look for words that use high-value tiles (Q, Z, X, J) or that fit bonus squares on the board. For longer words, you can also use the pattern box to lock down letters you know must go in specific positions (e.g., if you are extending an existing word on the board).

Crosswords

Crosswords give you clues and a grid with some letters filled in. Use the pattern box to represent the known letters in the answer — for example, if the clue is "Feline pet" and you have _A_T_ filled in, type that pattern and the finder returns CAT-related words like ACTA, ACTS, ALCT, ATAC, ATCA, CACA, CACT, CATA, CATS, CAUT, TACT, TACO, TACT, TALC, TAT, TCAT, TEAT, TOAC, TRAC, TSAR, TSAT, UTCA. Cross-referencing with the clue meaning gives you the answer.

Jumbles

A jumble gives you a set of scrambled letters and asks you to unscramble them into a word. Type the letters into the Contains letters box and leave the pattern empty. The finder returns every word that can be made from those letters. For example, jumbling RATLE returns words like ALERT, ALTER, ARTEL, EARTH, HEART, LATER, RATEL, TARE, TEAR, TERRA — the answer is whichever one matches the clue or fits the available spaces.

Wordscapes

Wordscapes gives you a wheel of letters and a crossword-style grid with blanks. Type the wheel letters into the Contains letters box and use the pattern box to match the grid blanks. For example, if the grid shows _ _ _ E _ and your wheel has ACRST, type ___E_ as the pattern and ACRST as the letters. The finder returns every word that fits both constraints — likely ACRES, CARES, CARSE, CRASE, RACES, SCARE, SCARF, SCARS, SCART, SCARY, SCORE, SCORN, SCOUR, SCRAM, SCRAN, SCRAP, SCRAT, SCREE, SCREW, SCRIM, SCRIP, SCROB, SCROD, SCROG, SCRUM, SCRUB, SCUBA, SCUDI, SCUDO, SCUFT, SCULK, SCULL, SCULP, SCUMS, SCUPS, SCURF, SCUTA, SCUTE, SCUTS, SCUZZ — and you pick the one that fits the crossing words.

Tips for Using a Word Finder Effectively

1. Start with what you know for certain. Lock down green letters (correct position) in the pattern box first. Every known letter eliminates a huge portion of the dictionary.
2. Use the Contains letters box for yellow letters. If you know a letter is in the word but not where, add it to the Contains letters box. The finder ensures every result includes it.
3. Narrow before you guess. If the finder returns 200 words, do not start guessing them one by one. Add more constraints — another known letter or a required letter — to shrink the list before you commit.
4. Look for common patterns. Many 5-letter words share endings like -IGHT, -ATCH, -OUND, -EART, or -OUGH. If your pattern matches one of these families, the finder will show you the whole family at once.
5. Use it as a learning tool, not just a crutch. Pay attention to which words the finder returns. Over time, you will start to recognize common 5-letter patterns and expand your vocabulary, making you faster even without the tool.
6. Combine both inputs for precision. The pattern box and the Contains letters box work together. Using both at once gives you far fewer — and more useful — results than either one alone.

Word Finder FAQ

What is a word finder?

A word finder is a tool that searches a dictionary for words matching criteria you provide — a letter pattern, a set of required letters, or both. It saves you from manually scanning word lists when you are stuck in a game.

You might also see this called a word puzzle solver or a word finder tool — and if you have been searching for the wird finder or andy word finder, you are in the right place. AnyWordSolver is a free, no-login word finder that works the same way: type what you know, get every word that fits.

How do I use a pattern like _a_a_?

Each character in the pattern represents one position in a 5-letter word. A letter means that position must be exactly that letter. An underscore (_) or dot (.) means any letter can go there. So _a_a_ matches words like ALARM, CAVAS, DAZED, PASTA, and SABAL.

Can I find words that contain specific letters?

Yes — use the Contains letters box. Type any letters that must appear somewhere in the word (for example, cat) and the finder will only show words that include every one of those letters at least once.

Is this word finder free?

Yes — completely free with unlimited searches and no registration required. The tool runs entirely in your browser.

What games can I use this word finder for?

It works for Wordle, Scrabble, crosswords, jumbles, Wordscapes, anagrams, and any other word game where you need to find words matching a pattern or containing certain letters.

How many words are in the dictionary?

The finder searches a dictionary of 12,478 five-letter words, which covers all valid Scrabble words, Wordle answers, and common English words.

Related Tools on AnyWordSolver

Looking for more word game help? Try these tools and games:

• Anagram Game — Play the daily anagram puzzle and make as many words as you can from one set of letters.
• Wordle Solver — Enter your Wordle guesses with color-coded tiles to find the best remaining answers.
• 5 Letter Words List — Browse every 5-letter word A–Z, organized by starting letter.
• Clueword — Reverse Wordle: find the hidden word from clue words instead of letter tiles.