About crypticcrossword.org

We built crypticcrossword.org because we believe the best way to learn cryptic crosswords is to understand why an answer is what it is — not just what the answer is.

What We Do

crypticcrossword.org combines a free rule-based solver with AI-powered explanations. The free solver uses pattern matching and dictionary lookup to suggest candidate answers. The AI explainer uses large language models to provide complete wordplay breakdowns — showing you exactly how the trick works.

Data Sources

Our example clue database uses data from eigenfoo/cryptics, licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL). Our indicator and abbreviation lists are based on mhl/cryptic-crossword-indicators-and-abbreviations, a community-maintained resource dating back to 1992.

Contact

Email: support@crypticcrossword.org