Clue Type

Anagram Clues

An anagram clue asks you to rearrange a set of letters (the fodder) to form the answer. The clue always contains an anagram indicator — a word or phrase that signals mixing, breaking, or reshuffling — plus a straight definition of the answer.

How to identify anagram clues

Look for indicator words that suggest disorder, change, or rearrangement. Then count the letters of nearby words to see if they match the answer length. If a group of letters beside the indicator has the exact letter count, you have likely found the fodder.

Common indicators

mixedbrokenwildconfusedscrambledtwistedmangledrearrangedshuffleddancingcrazydrunkmessyshattereddestroyedruinedreformedconvertedchangedmodifiedalteredsortedcookedbadlypoorlyoddlystrangelywreckednovelnewfreshexcitedupsettroubled

Worked examples

#15117 Jul 2026

“Amputee climber got past treacherous drop!” you heard documentary maker say(8)

Definition
Our definition here is 'documentary maker say', and 'say' is flagging that 'documentary maker' is an example of our answer. Side note: as an appreciator of cryptic clues, hats off to Sean for using 'say' on the surface to describe a person saying something, and in the definition to flag an example. Masterfully done.
Indicator
This clue's indicators are 'Amputee', 'got past', 'treacherous', and 'heard'. One of these is a quite particular deletion indicator guiding us to delete a certain set of letters from neighbouring fodder and keep the rest. Another is a homophone indicator - we'll need to sound out an adjacent word and replace it with a soundalike. A third is an anagram indicator flagging that nearby fodder is being deceptive or unreliable and will rearrange. And 'got past' is a simple repositioning indicator - take what precedes it and put it past (on the other side of) what follows.
Fodder
This clue's fodder is 'climber', 'drop', and 'you'. We'll use these words and their letters to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

Answer: PRODUCER

Full breakdown
#14814 Jul 2026

Start midday meal around midday(6)

Definition
Our definition here is 'Start', and our answer will be another word for that.
Indicator
This clue's indicators are 'around' and 'mid'. One is a selection indicator naming the position of an important letter in nearby fodder. The other is a containing indicator - some fodder will go around the outside of some other fodder.
Fodder
This clue's fodder is 'midday meal' and 'day'. We'll need to find a common substitute for one of these and use it with the letters of the other to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

Answer: LAUNCH

Full breakdown
#14309 Jul 2026

Weathered tin sign adorning the outskirts of Venice: “Sinking Capital”(9)

Definition
Our definition here is 'Sinking Capital' and our answer will be a word for that.
Indicator
This clue's indicators are 'Weathered', 'adorning', and 'the outskirts of'. One of these is a selection indicator naming the positions of important letters in neighbouring fodder. Another is an anagram indicator - some nearby fodder will degrade, its structure will collapse and its letters will rearrange. And a third is a containing indicator telling us to put some fodder around the outside of other fodder.
Fodder
This clue's fodder is 'tin sign' and 'Venice'. We'll use these letters (or some of them) to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

Answer: INVESTING

Full breakdown
#13905 Jul 2026

One of many on board to witness the start of dawn cycling?(4)

Definition
Our definition here is 'One of many on board', and our answer will be something you find many of on a board.
Indicator
This clue's indicators are 'to witness', 'the start of', and 'cycling'. One of these is a selection indicator naming the position of one important letter to focus on in neighbouring fodder. Another is a homoglyph indicator guiding us to pay attention to what something looks like - to its shape. This homoglyph indicator is paired with a kind of transformation indicator - take that shape and transform it by putting a new spin on it. What letter does it look like when you've done that.
Fodder
This clue's fodder is 'dawn'. In one way or another, we'll use all of these letters to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

Answer: PAWN

Full breakdown
#13703 Jul 2026

Roughly sub-zero, for temperature in windswept tundra(6)

Definition
Our definition here is 'Roughly', and our answer will be another word for that.
Indicator
This clue's indicators are 'sub... for... in' and 'windswept'. The first of these is a swapping idea - we'll need to 'sub' or substitute one letter for another in some fodder. The second indicator is an anagram indicator - some neighbouring fodder will be blown around and disturbed, and its letters will rearrange.
Fodder
This clue's fodder is 'zero', 'temperature', and 'tundra'. We'll need to substitute two of these with short alternatives, using them with the letters of the third to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

Answer: AROUND

Full breakdown

Practice tips

1Count letters first. If the fodder's letter count does not match the enumeration, it is not the right fodder.
2The indicator can appear before or after the fodder — do not assume a fixed order.
3Some indicators are subtle. Words like 'novel' or 'off' can signal an anagram in the right context.
4Write the fodder letters in a circle or jumble them on paper to help spot the answer.

Related glossary terms

Explore other clue types