Cryptic Crossword Solver
Methodology

How cryptic crossword solutions are checked.

A good answer should survive multiple checks: definition, wordplay, enumeration, known letters, clue type, and indicator fairness.

1

Definition check

The answer should match a straight definition in the clue, usually at the beginning or end. If the definition is loose, the explanation should say so rather than overstating certainty.

2

Wordplay check

The answer should be buildable from the clue text through a fair cryptic mechanism, such as an anagram, hidden word, reversal, charade, container, deletion, homophone, or double definition.

3

Enumeration check

The proposed answer must fit the answer length and pattern. Known letters should be used to reject plausible but incorrect alternatives.

4

Indicator check

Indicators should explain the operation. For example, mixed can indicate an anagram, backward can indicate a reversal, and some can indicate a hidden answer.

5

Confidence check

Confidence is higher when definition, wordplay, indicator, and enumeration all align. Confidence is lower when context is missing or the parse depends on a weak synonym or directional clue.

6

Editorial check

Public solution pages should be reviewed for clarity before indexing. Thin, uncertain, duplicate, or unclear explanations should be improved or kept out of the public archive.

AI-assisted explanations

The solver may use AI-assisted reasoning to produce candidate explanations. That makes review important: a generated answer can be plausible while still having weak wordplay or an incorrect definition. Public pages are intended to prioritise reviewed, defensible examples rather than raw generated output.

Browse reviewed solutions