Free word tool
Word pattern finder
Place known letters exactly where they belong and use ? or _ for each unknown position. A pattern such as C??NE searches only five-letter matches.
How to search a fixed word pattern
A pattern describes both letter position and word length. C??NE means a five-letter word beginning C and ending NE, with two unknown letters in between. The tool compares that shape against the word list without rearranging any known letter.
Pattern searches are useful for deduction games, hangman-style clues, and crosswords. Add every confirmed position, but keep uncertain squares as wildcards. Because the pattern already fixes length, a separate length control is unnecessary.
Tips for better results
- Count every square: a missing wildcard changes the intended word length.
- Both ? and _ represent exactly one letter.
- Start with common words, then include the broader list for difficult clues.
Common questions
What does a wildcard represent?
Each ? or _ represents exactly one unknown alphabetic letter.
Can I use several wildcards?
Yes, up to the 15-position word-list limit.
Is this different from the five-letter finder?
This finder supports patterns from 2 to 15 letters. The five-letter finder adds dedicated include and exclude controls for five-letter deduction games.
Five-Letter FinderCombine positions, required letters, and exclusions.Open →
Word UnscramblerBuild every possible word from your letters and wildcards.Open →
Anagram SolverUse every letter exactly once to reveal an exact match.Open →
