About this tool
The Crossword Pattern Solver finds all the words that fit a slot when you know some of the letters and their positions. Type a pattern the same length as the answer — letters where you know them and a dot, underscore, or question mark for each blank square — and it returns every dictionary word that matches, in alphabetical order. For example c.t.r finds five-letter words with c first and t in the middle, such as cater, cutter's cousins, and more.
All matching happens locally in your browser with a word list loaded once, so your clues never leave your device. Two optional filters sharpen the search: a contains box requires the answer to include certain letters somewhere (useful when a crossing clue tells you a letter is present but not where), and an excludes box removes any word containing letters you have ruled out. Together these mimic the constraints you build up while filling a grid.
The dictionary is a public-domain English word list, which is broad and well suited to crosswords, word puzzles, and hangman-style fill-in-the-blank problems, though some very modern or borrowed words (qi, za, xu, zydeco) may be missing and some archaic or proper-name entries may appear. Enter the length and letters you know and the solver does the rest.