Cryptic crosswords are a different beast from standard crosswords. Each clue is a miniature puzzle in itself—a riddle that hides the answer in plain sight. If you've ever stared at a clue like "Confused badgers return for sweet treat (6)" and felt lost, you're in the right place. Here we break down the most common types of cryptic clues so you can start solving with confidence.
1. Anagrams
An anagram clue jumbles the letters of one part of the clue to form the answer. Look for indicator words that suggest mixing or confusion: confused, broken, wild, upset, moving, mixed, reform, strange. The clue format is: definition + anagram fodder + anagram indicator (in any order).
Example: "Confused badgers return for sweet treat (6)"
Confused = anagram indicator. Badgers = anagram fodder. Rearrange "badgers" to get BROWNIE (sweet treat).
If you're ever stuck on an anagram, paste the letters into our Anagram Generator to see all possible words instantly.
2. Hidden Words
The answer is literally hidden inside the words of the clue—no rearrangement needed. Indicators: hidden in, part of, from, within, embraces, provides, contains.
Example: "Angry dog brought back treasure hidden in cargo alley (4)"
Look at the phrase "cargo alley" closely: you'll find GOAL (treasure) right there.
3. Charades
The answer is built by joining smaller words or parts (like charades). Clue indicators: with, and, after, before, on top of, behind.
Example: "Girl with a vehicle is a painter (5)"
Girl = MONA, vehicle = LISA → MONALISA (painter).
4. Double Definitions
Two different meanings of the same word are given, linked by a word like and, or, maybe.
Example: "Flow of water and present tense of 'run' (5)"
Flow of water = CURRENT, present tense of run = CURRENT → CURRENT.
5. Homophones (Sounds Like)
The answer sounds like another word when spoken. Indicators: heard, aloud, in speech, to the ear, reportedly.
Example: "We hear it’s a large boat (4)"
"We hear" hints at a homophone of "ark" → ARC (a large boat is an ark).
6. Reversals
Part of the clue needs to be reversed. Indicators: returned, back, flipped, in reverse, going west (in an across clue).
Example: "Animals brought back in nets (5)"
"Brought back" indicates a reversal. "Nets" reversed = STEN? Not quite—"animals" = DEER, reversed in "nets" gives STEER (net reversed is ten, not steer). Let's try a better one: "Time keeper returned dessert (4)"
Time keeper = METRONOME? No. "Returned" = reversal of "time" = EMIT, but dessert = PIE? Actually: "Deliver up dessert" (deliver = EMIT reversed = TIME, dessert = PIE? Not matching). Standard example: "Stop returning pets (4)" → Stop = STEM, returning = METS? Best to memorize common reversal indicators and practice.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to improve is to solve regularly. Use our Anagram Generator to crack anagram clues, and bookmark our Dictionary Checker to verify obscure words you uncover. Soon you'll start to see the patterns everywhere.