Hard Word Search Puzzles
8 printable word searches for people who find the usual ones too quick: a 20x20 grid, 35 words, and every direction in play, including diagonals and words spelled backwards. Each one prints on a single page with the answer key on page two.
Hard Thanksgiving Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 12 diagonal · 18 backwards
Holidays
Hard Christmas Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 14 diagonal · 16 backwards
Holidays
Hard Animal Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 16 diagonal · 18 backwards
Animals
Hard Countries Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 19 diagonal · 18 backwards
Geography
Hard Food Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 14 diagonal · 20 backwards
Food
Hard Sports Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 20 diagonal · 16 backwards
Sports
Hard Ocean Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 16 diagonal · 20 backwards
Nature
Hard Space Word Search
35 words · 20×20 · 16 diagonal · 21 backwards
Science
Why a bigger grid is not the whole story
A large grid on its own only makes a puzzle longer. What makes it hard is giving your eye fewer shortcuts. In these puzzles every one of the eight directions is used at least twice, and no single direction holds more than about a fifth of the words, so you cannot settle into reading left to right. The word lists are picked the same way: the countries puzzle has 16 names ending in A, and the sports puzzle has six that end in ball, so a familiar run of letters often points to the wrong word.
If you want something lighter for a quick break, word search for adults has 358 themed puzzles with longer, less common words in a smaller grid that also works for playing online.
Frequently asked questions
What makes these word searches hard?
Each grid is 20x20, which is 400 letters, and hides 35 words. Every puzzle uses all eight directions with at least two words in each, so you have to check diagonals and backwards words, not just rows and columns.
Will a 20x20 word search fit on one page?
Yes. Both the Download PDF button and printing straight from the browser fit the grid and the word list on one page of Letter or A4. The PDF puts the answer key on page two.
Can I play these on my phone?
You can, but a 20x20 grid makes each letter very small on a phone screen. These are made for paper, or at least a tablet. On a phone, download the PDF and print it.