Are you looking for a dictionary to help you up your game? Whether you want a book you can thumb through or you prefer a website or app, there are plenty of great options that can help you solve hard-to-crack crossword clues. Peruse this list of the best crossword puzzle dictionaries, and you'll be on your way to solving the puzzle of finding the best crossword solver tool that best meets your needs.
Woman doing Crossword
Advertisem*nt
4 Top Crossword Puzzle Dictionary Books
Every serious crossword puzzler needs at least one crossword puzzle dictionary on their bookshelf! These top-rated crossword puzzle dictionary options are considered some of the best of the best by puzzle enthusiasts. Not only are they simple to use and easy on the eyes, but they also have a large library of answer words and word strategies to help you solve even the toughest crossword puzzles.
Andrew Swanfeldt Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
The Andrew Swanfeldt Crossword Puzzle Dictionary offers an instant finder system that groups words by the number of letters rather than putting them in alphabetical order. For instance, if you are looking for an eight-letter word that means "with joy," you can look under "joy" in the instant finder system and instantly find a synonym with eight letters (happiness).
This dictionary's unique instant finder feature truly makes Swanfeldt's dictionary one of the best for puzzlers. That's why it's among the ten best crossword puzzle dictionaries recommended by BestReviews Guide. Amazon reviewers say that the book is comprehensive and has a clear and easy-to-follow format. You can find this at multiple bookstores online for about $17.
The Million Word Crossword Dictionary, 2nd Edition
The Million Word Crossword Dictionary gets high marks for its comprehensive list of words, along with the fact that it includes modern slang and is printed with easy-to-read large type. These are a few of the reasons why it's MSN.com's highest-rated crossword dictionary.
This comprehensive puzzle-solving resource has over a million answers and covers literary works, TV shows, brand names, films, synonyms, and famous people like Jim Carrey. Taking crossword puzzle dictionaries to the next level, The Million Word Crossword Dictionary features an introduction by Will Shortz, editor of The New York Times crossword puzzle games section. It retails for around $20.
The Beginners' Crossword Dictionary
Are you just getting into the crossword solving game? if so, The Beginners' Crossword Dictionary is designed for you. Created with the newbie in mind, this crossword puzzle dictionary offers tips and tricks, such as avoiding common crossword puzzle pitfalls, such as the fact that both "spar" and "spat" are four-letter synonyms for quarrel.
The Beginners' Crossword Dictionary offers a common crossword entry guide that you can use as a quick reference. Available for less than $10, this one-stop spot for crossword newbies is featured on the Amazon Best Seller List.
Advertisem*nt
Webster's New World Crossword Puzzle Dictionary, 2nd Ed.
Last but certainly not least among print crossword dictionaries, Webster's New World Crossword Puzzle Dictionary is a fan favorite. Featured in the top spots on many best lists, including MSN's best crossword dictionary list, this comprehensive reference for puzzle enthusiasts offers more than 300,000 answers and quick reference guides.
One of the reasons that puzzlers love this dictionary so much is that it is convenient and speedy, featuring lists in alphabetical order as well as by the number of letters in a word. It has a table for subcategories, like Shakespearean plays, so finding a tough entry can be a breeze. You can get this at most bookstores for about $17.
4 Top Free Online Crossword Dictionaries
If you'd rather do an online search than use a print dictionary, there are plenty of online dictionaries and crossword solver apps designed with word game enthusiasts in mind. These easy-to-use gems typically aren't as comprehensive as a book but can be much more convenient. You can use your hint to search definitions, anagrams and word lists. Many online dictionaries also let you search, for example, for six-letter words that start with "a" or three-letter words that end with "e." Explore the top online dictionaries that crossword puzzle lovers might try.
YourDictionary.com
You've come to the right place! A comprehensive online dictionary with thousands of entries, YourDictionary lets you look for answers by letter or search definitions. Finding synonyms is a snap with the site's simple thesaurus feature. The quotes topics in the example section can also be helpful for puzzlers looking for hard-to-find literary references or celebrity sayings.
WordFinder by YourDictionary is particularly useful for crossword puzzle enthusiasts. WordFinder offers an anagram solver, along with a multitude of other cheats that crossword puzzlers can use. Using WordFinder for a crossword puzzle is easy. All you need to do is use "?" for up to two wildcard spaces to get to your answer fast. For example, "hammer" might come to you from "?amm?r."It's also available as a mobile app,
Advertisem*nt
Chambers Dictionary
The Chambers online dictionary is a crossword lover's go-to resource for online searching. In addition to the free online edition, this tool is available in a highly-rated app via Google Play. This search guide allows puzzlers to peruse through a full dictionary as well as a thesaurus and biographical dictionary.
The Chambers word wizard feature offers instant word game solutions. Designed with puzzlers in mind, this unique feature allows you to type a "?" for any missing letters. This online resource also includes a general knowledge base full of information by expert puzzlers to help you on your crossword journey.
Collins Dictionary
A top online dictionary that's popular among crossword solvers, Collins Online English Dictionary offers an array of features that players can utilize for quick crossword solving. That's why it's rated among the top choices by LanguageLearningBase.
Its easy-to-use search tool allows you to quickly look through the dictionary, thesaurus and even the translator. Collins also features popular tools, like trending words and a word of the day, to grow your vocabulary. The word list feature in this dictionary can provide quick access to politicians, composers and writers.
Crossword Heaven
Crossword Heaven is a basic, yet powerful online resource for solving crossword puzzles. The description on the website calls it a "crossword clue search engine." it's recommended by Android Authority as one of the best online crossword dictionaries. The site has around a million clues and its database includes most English words.
Crossword Heaven allows you to search by clue, as well as to input any information you already know (such as certain letters in specific positions). Rather than entering a question mark for unknowns, with this site you will need to leave blank spaces. You can also put in a pattern and get a list of words that follow the pattern.
Advertisem*nt
Best Resources for Word Puzzle Answers
It's not hard to find a crossword puzzle dictionary, as there are many options in print or online. Use the suggestions here to narrow your search to the best of the best. Whether you like to solve printable crossword puzzles or puzzles in books or newspapers, the resources you find here will help you succeed.
While you're at it, go beyond crossword puzzles and find a word jumble solver. You may also find these anagram examples to be helpful. With the right tools, you can have a lot of fun solving all types of word puzzles!
Jennifer Betts
Staff Writer