If you're seriously into word games, here are the dictionaries that absolutely, positively, must live on your bookshelf...
21st Century Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
I've got a pretty decent collection of crossword dictionaries on my bookshelf, but I've only listed one of them on this page. Why? Because, oddly, it's the only one I've found that does what I think a crossword puzzle dictionary should do.
Kevin McCann's 21st Century Crossword Puzzle Dictionary focuses exclusively on the sorts of crossword answers that actually turn up frequently in published puzzles.
Years ago Kevin created a crossword database using thousands of clues and answers from major American newspapers — it's been quietly chugging away ever since. He used this database to put together a dictionary with entries that look exactly like the ones in your morning paper. Which they should, of course, because that's exactly where he got them ;-)
If you want to know all possible synonyms of a word, you should consult a reputable thesaurus. But if you're interested primarily in words and clues that actually tend to appear in crosswords, this tome is a little-known gem. Read more...
Chambers Dictionary
For years, Chambers has had a stronghold on the word game market.
One of the reasons for this is that Chambers Dictionary is jam-packed with all those crazy words you find in crossword puzzles and on Scrabble boards, but never in the real world.
I mean, where else will you find delicious entries like EUOI, a cry of Bacchic frenzy, and YRIVD, an obsolete past participle of rive? Yet, despite its indulgence in such lexical obscurities, the dictionary remains a perfect size for browsing in bed. Read more...
Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary
If you are at all serious about your Scrabble - even if you are a lounge room player - I highly recommend you have an 'official' dictionary on your shelf that unambiguously tells you whether any given word is in or out. But...
Be careful with the word 'Official'!
This bulky tome is the official Scrabble dictionary endorsed by the World English Scrabble Players Association. Despite the powerful name, though, this doesn't mean that everybody uses it. Read more...
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
Official Scrabble Players Dictionary
Whenever I meet someone who finds out how serious I am about Scrabble, the first question I get asked is 'What is the official dictionary for Scrabble?'...
Compiled by Herbert M. Baus - Definitely the best book to help solve crossword puzzles. The book is worth a fortune now. Approximately ...
Chambers Dictionary Book Review
Where to get it For many years now, Chambers have had a stronghold on the word game market. This dictionary is a pure delight to browse for word-...
focuses exclusively on the sorts of crossword answers that actually turn up frequently in published puzzles.
, which I've talked about earlier in this list.
