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Daily Crossword

Classic word crossword puzzles

⏱ 15-45 min👥 1⚡ Hard📱 Mobile-friendly🌐 Plays in browser
🎮 Play Daily Crossword Now

Opens in a new tab · No downloads required

Our Verdict

The benchmark vocabulary and cultural-knowledge puzzle — ideal for language lovers who want a longer daily challenge than Wordle. Requires broader general knowledge than pure logic puzzles, which makes it more rewarding when you crack a clever clue.

What We Like

  • ✓Themed grids give each puzzle a satisfying narrative layer beyond individual clues
  • ✓Crossing letters provide built-in error correction — a wrong answer breaks intersecting words
  • ✓Covers vocabulary, trivia, wordplay, and pop culture simultaneously
  • ✓Free daily access with no account required on the Washington Post version
  • ✓Hints available without fully revealing the answer

Watch Out For

  • ✗Cultural references skew heavily toward American English and US pop culture
  • ✗Difficulty spikes sharply — casual solvers may hit walls on themed wordplay clues
  • ✗No feedback on whether an individual answer is correct until surrounding crosses are filled

How to Play Daily Crossword

  1. 1Read the clue number and direction (Across or Down) and count the squares available for that answer.
  2. 2Start with clues you know confidently — correct letters in the grid become crossing letters that help unlock harder clues.
  3. 3Scan clue types: definitions are straightforward, clues ending in '?' signal wordplay or puns, clues with abbreviations in brackets suggest abbreviated answers.
  4. 4Use crossing letters aggressively — a three-letter answer with two confirmed letters often resolves immediately.
  5. 5When stuck, skip to another area of the grid rather than fixating on one clue; progress elsewhere often returns enough crosses to solve the problem clue.
  6. 6Check the theme clues (usually the longest Across answers) first — understanding the theme unlocks many other answers.

Controls

mouse
Click a square to select it; click again or press Tab to toggle Across/Down
keyboard
Type letters directly; arrow keys to navigate; Backspace to erase
touch
Tap a square to select, then type on the on-screen or device keyboard

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Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the Washington Post daily crossword compared to the NYT?▾

The Washington Post crossword is generally considered more accessible than the NYT, which famously scales difficulty Monday (easiest) through Saturday (hardest) with Sunday being a large themed grid.

What does a '?' at the end of a crossword clue mean?▾

A question mark signals that the clue involves wordplay, a pun, or a non-literal interpretation. The answer still fits the letter count but requires lateral thinking rather than a direct definition.

Can I get help without seeing the full answer?▾

Most online crossword players including the Washington Post version offer a 'Check Letter' or 'Check Word' option that flags incorrect letters without revealing the full solution.

Game Details

Developer
Washington Post
Released
1913
Players
1
Session
daily
Difficulty
Hard
Mobile
Yes
Embeddable
No — links to game site