Advanced Word Finder: Search by Pattern & Regex

Quick Guide to Advanced Word Search & Pattern Finder

Need to find specific words for crosswords, Scrabble, Words With Friends, or anagram challenges? This advanced word search tool helps you find words based on specific letter patterns. The table below demonstrates common search patterns used in our pattern finder to quickly locate the words you need. These patterns are perfect for fitting words into crossword grids, assisting your Scrabble word finder efforts, or matching any specific letter layout required by your word game. Whether solving puzzles or playing games, these examples simplify your word search and enhance your winning strategy.

Advanced Word Search & Pattern Finder Examples for Crosswords and Word Games
Pattern (Enter this in the word finder)	Pattern Meaning (How the search works)	Example Words Found
???	Finds any 3-letter word.	CAT, DOG, SUN
?????	Locates any 5-letter word.	PLANT, HOUSE, STONE
A??	Finds 3-letter words starting with "A".	AND, ARM, ART
??K	Identifies 3-letter words ending with "K".	DUK, MAK, OAK
*K*	Searches for words containing the letter "K".	BIKE, MASK, TOKEN
*Z*	Finds words that include the letter "Z".	ZOO, MAZE, BUZZ, GAZE
Z*	Locates words beginning with "Z".	ZERO, ZONE, ZEBRA
*Z	Finds words that end with "Z".	QUIZ, BUZZ, FIZZ
?Z*	Identifies words where "Z" is the second letter.	EZRA, AZUR, OZONE
??N*	Searches for words with "N" as the third letter.	BANK, PINT, TANK
*ATOM*	Finds words starting with "A", containing "T", and ending with "OM".	ATOM, AUTUMN, ANATOM
*?UA**	Locates words where the second letter is "U" and the last is "A".	LUNA, RUMBA, TUBA
!z[a-e].[s-t]s	Performs an advanced REGEX search matching a custom pattern.	ZEST, TESTS

Pattern (Enter this in the word finder) – Input letters and special symbols (`?` for single char, `*` for sequence, or REGEX) to create your search pattern.
Pattern Meaning – Explains how the entered pattern directs the advanced word search.
Example Words Found – Sample results returned by the pattern finder matching the specified pattern.

ADVANCED WORD SEARCH – DETAILED GUIDE

Advanced Word Finder for Scrabble, Words With Friends & Crosswords

Advanced word search tool - online pattern finder for word games like Scrabble and crosswords.

This powerful advanced word search tool lets you discover all word combinations matching a specific pattern. It's incredibly useful for various word games, including CROSSWORD PUZZLES, CHARADES, and board games like SCRABBLE or WORDS WITH FRIENDS. Use it as your go-to Scrabble word finder when you need words fitting specific board placements. Each word found by the pattern finder can be instantly checked against our Scrabble dictionary by clicking it (functionality may vary).

How to Use the Pattern Word Search?

Searching by patterns with our word finder allows you to locate every word that matches your defined structure or pattern.

Understanding Patterns: Theory

Video tutorial: Using the advanced pattern word finder on poocoo - Scrabble and word game help

A search pattern is defined by specifying required letters and indicating positions where any letter or sequence of letters can appear. This makes our advanced word search highly flexible.

Use these special characters in your pattern search:

? - Represents any single letter.

* - Represents any sequence of zero or more letters.

Let's put this pattern finder into practice...

Pattern Search Example One:

We need words that meet these criteria:

1. Start with the letter A
2. Contain the letter T somewhere after A
3. End exactly with the letters OM

Enter this pattern into the word finder:

A*T*OM

Why does this pattern work?

The word must start with A - so the pattern begins with A.

The letter T appears later... so between A and T, there can be any number of letters (or none). This variable sequence is represented by *.

Next comes the required letter T.

After T, there can again be any sequence of letters before the ending, represented by another *.

Finally, the word must end precisely with OM.

Pattern Search Example Two:

We're looking for words where:

1. The first letter can be anything.
2. The second letter must be U.
3. Any sequence of letters follows.
4. The word must end specifically with A.

Enter this pattern into the word search:

?U*A

Why this pattern?

1. The first character is any single letter - represented by ?.

2. The second letter must be U.

3. Any sequence of letters can follow U - represented by *.

4. The word must end with A.

After entering your pattern in the advanced word search tool, click Search for words by pattern to find matching words.

REGEX Search: Regular Expressions for Expert Users

For highly specific pattern matching, our advanced word search supports regular expressions (REGEX). To use REGEX, simply start your pattern with an exclamation mark (!).

REGEX Example Three:

Find words containing an internal sequence structured like this:

1. The letter Z.

2. Followed by any single letter from a to e.

3. Followed by any single character (wildcard).

4. Followed by any single letter from s to t.

5. Ending with the letter S.

Your REGEX pattern for this specific word search would be: !z[a-e].[s-t]s

Remember the leading exclamation mark ! to signal that the input is a regular expression for the pattern finder.