The 21st Century Crossword Puzzle Dictionary

by Mark Diehl and Kevin McCann

Finally, a crossword dictionary with all the words solvers need--and none of the ones they don't When it comes to puzzle dictionaries, it's the quality of what's inside that counts. Who needs a plethora of synonyms that never appear in an actual crossword? So, authors Kevin McCann and Mark Diehl analyzed thousands of crosswords to amass an up-to-date list of words that regularly turn up in today's top puzzles. To make the dictionary even easier to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 140272134X
• ISBN13: 9781402721342
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Puzzlewright
• Length: 814 Pages
• Weight: 1.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great resource

The dictionary is the perfect tool for any crossword lover. It provides you with many possible solutions and the lists at the back of the book are great! Highly recommended.

Great reference!

Great crossword dictionary. I like that the most common answers are in red. Very easy to use once you read the introduction in the front of the book.

Very helpful!

This is the best crossword dictionary I've come across. Has more information/answers than the other main reference books. I would definitely recommend it to others.

An incredible -- and incredibly helpful -- piece of work

If you have seen the movie "Wordplay" you will recognize the names of Trip Payne, Tyler Hinman and Ellen Ripstein, all of whom share the distinction of having been the champion of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Each of those amazing crossword solvers endorses this dictionary, as does Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! champion and no mean crossword puzzle solver himself. (If you enjoy crossword puzzles and haven't seen the movie, get the DVD. The movie is worth the price of the DVD, and so are the special features.) Those endorsements alone give enough credibility to this incredible piece of work to pick it up and research it. When you do you'll find a unique and very useful crossword puzzle dictionary. One of the features that has impressed me (in the few days I've had it) is that a number of complete clues are included, set off by quote marks. For instance one entry is "Same here!" with the answers: 5 ASAMI DITTO METOO SODOI. Because those are in alphabetical order, you might assume ASAMI to be the most popular answer, when in fact DITTO is. We know that because DITTO appears in red, as do all the most popular answers to actual clues. Additionally, there are comprehensive lists of winners of nearly everything important, from the Pulitzer Prize to The U.S. Open (golf and tennis) and lists of famous positions from Popes to Poets Laureate. One could easily use this part of the dictionary as a quick reference guide or as a study guide. Puzzles by Mark Diehl can be found in many of the NYT puzzle collection books, which we often buy for my mother-in-law, and he is an excellent cruciverbalist. It turns out that he and Kevin McCann are also outstanding (crossword puzzle) lexicographers.

The 21st Century Crossword Puzzle Dictionary Review

This crossword dictionary is a great buy for anyone who does a lot of crosswords. There are up to date pop culture references, great lists and even an index at that end which tells what lists are included. The most used clues are highlighted. I am definitely glad I purchased this dictionary. I have The Million Word Crossword Dictionary which is a nice crossword dictionary but does not include the comprehensive lists that this dictionary contains.