Words by Pattern

Find words that match a letter pattern.

How to use it

  1. Type a pattern using letters and wildcards: ? for any single letter, * for any number of letters.
  2. Click "Find words" or press Enter to search.
  3. Results show all matching words from a 172,000-word dictionary.
  4. Click any word to copy it.

Examples and use cases

Crossword puzzles

Know some letters but not others? Enter the pattern like "c?t" to find cat, cot, cut and every other match.

Wordle solver

Enter a 5-letter pattern with known letters in place and ? for unknowns: "s?a?e" finds shade, shake, shape, share, and more.

Finding words with specific letters

Use patterns like "*qu*" to find words containing "qu" or "un*" to find words starting with "un".

Rhyme and word study

Search for words ending with a pattern like "*tion" or "*ight" to find groups of words with similar endings.

Frequently asked questions

What do the wildcards mean?
The question mark (?) matches exactly one letter. The asterisk (*) matches zero or more letters. For example, "c?t" matches "cat" and "cot" but not "cart." The pattern "c*t" matches "cat," "cart," "carpet," "connect," and many more.
Can I search for words of a specific length?
Yes. Use question marks to specify the exact length. For a 5-letter word starting with "s" and ending with "e," type "s???e." Each question mark represents exactly one unknown letter.
How many words are in the dictionary?
Over 172,000 English words from the ENABLE dictionary, the standard reference for North American word games.
Is my search sent to a server?
No. The word list loads into your browser and all pattern matching happens locally. Your searches never leave your device.
Can I combine fixed letters and wildcards?
Yes. Any combination works: "b?n?na" matches "banana," "?oo?" matches "book," "boot," "cool," "food," and many others.
Why are some words missing?
The tool uses the ENABLE word list, which is comprehensive but does not include proper nouns, very new words, or most slang terms.

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About this tool

Pattern-based word search is essential for crossword solvers, Wordle players, and anyone working with word puzzles. When you know some letters and their positions but not the full word, a pattern search narrows the possibilities instantly.

The Wordshed pattern finder uses the same 172,000-word ENABLE dictionary as the word unscrambler. It supports two wildcard types: ? for a single unknown letter and * for any number of letters. The entire dictionary runs in your browser — no server queries, no delays after the initial load.