How word searches work
This one splits between the food and the occasion, which gives the letter patterns useful variety. CRANBERRY and CASSEROLE are both nine letters and both contain a double letter, making them the anchors of the grid.
GRAVY and MAIZE are the quick wins thanks to the V and Z, neither of which turns up often in random filler. STUFFING has a double F worth scanning for directly.
The grid regenerates every time you load the page, so the same theme never gives you the same arrangement twice. Words run in all eight directions including backwards and diagonally, and your fastest completion time for each grid size is saved in your browser.
The thanksgiving word list
| Word | Letters | Notable letters |
|---|---|---|
| TURKEY | 6 | K, Y |
| STUFFING | 8 | common letters only |
| CRANBERRY | 9 | Y |
| PUMPKIN | 7 | K |
| HARVEST | 7 | V |
| GRATITUDE | 9 | common letters only |
| CASSEROLE | 9 | common letters only |
| PARADE | 6 | common letters only |
| AUTUMN | 6 | common letters only |
| GRAVY | 5 | V, Y |
| FAMILY | 6 | Y |
| PILGRIM | 7 | common letters only |
| FEAST | 5 | common letters only |
| MAIZE | 5 | Z |
How to find words faster
- Find the longest thanksgiving words first. CRANBERRY is the longest entry at 9 letters, and long words have far fewer possible placements than short ones. Clearing them early removes a disproportionate share of the grid.
- Target the uncommon letters in this list. The rare letters present here are K, V, Y, Z. Each one appears only a handful of times in the random filler, so finding the letter usually hands you the word.
- Leave GRAVY until last. At 5 letters it is the shortest entry, which means it has the most possible positions on the grid and hides best. Short words are always the least efficient thing to hunt first.
- Read every candidate in both directions. Roughly half the placements in any grid are reversed. If an area looks empty, try reading it backwards before moving on.
Frequently asked questions
What is in the Thanksgiving word list?
Fourteen words split between the meal, the harvest and the traditions of the day, which gives the grid a useful spread of letter patterns.
Which words are quickest to find?
GRAVY and MAIZE, thanks to the V and the Z. Neither letter turns up often in the random filler, so each is effectively a free find.
What are the longest words?
CRANBERRY and CASSEROLE, both nine letters and both containing a double letter, which makes them the anchors of the grid.