Tuesday 3 March 2009

Anagram Indicators

Anagram indicators, or anagrinds as they've come to be called, give wide scope for play to the clue writer. Of all clue types that take indicators, setters seem to get most creative with anagrams. In essence, any word/phrase that suggests reordering of its adjacent letters can work as an anagrind.

The validity/fairness of indicators often leads to debate; that happens a lot with anagrinds (and I'm not talking about Nita Jaggi's anagrinds such as 'loud', 'large' in The Hindu – those are not okay by any yardstick). A classic point of contention is nounal anagrinds. One school of thought (which includes setters like Ximenes and Azed) is strictly against them, others setters/solvers find them acceptable in certain conditions. So an anagrind like 'different' (adjective) would be indisputable, but 'difference' (noun) tends to stir controversy.

Anagrinds By Letters Of The Alphabet

Here's a compilation of frequently seen anagram indicators. A huge set when compared to other indicators, and yet there are many more possibilities.

The indicators are placed in dictionary order. Click any letter for indicators that start with that letter.

Note: The list mentions one form of the word, consider its variants too. For example, BLEND => BLENDS, BLENDED, BLENDING and so on. Which grammatical form to use depends on the structure of the clue; note that the wordplay grammar must work for the cryptic reading as well as the surface. More on this here: Camouflaging Anagrams and Verbal Anagrammar.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ABERRANT
ABNORMAL
ABOUT
ABSURD
ACCIDENTAL
ADAPTED
ADDLED
ADJUSTED
ADRIFT
ADVERSELY
AFFECTED
AFFLICTED
AFRESH
AFTER A FASHION
AGITATED
AIMLESS
ALL AT SEA
ALL OVER THE PLACE
ALL WRONG
ALTERED
ALTERNATIVE
ALTERNATIVELY
AMALGAMATE
AMBIGUOUS
AMENDED
AMISS
AMOK
ANEW
ANOMALOUS
ANOTHER
ANOTHER WAY
ANYHOW
ANYWAY
APPEARING AS
ARISING FROM
AROUND
ARRANGED
ASKEW
ASSEMBLED
ASSORTED
ASTRAY
AT FAULT
AT ODDS
AT SEA
AT SIXES AND SEVENS
AT VARIANCE
AWFUL
AWKWARDLY
AWRY

BADLY
BAFFLED
BATTERED
BEATEN UP
BECOMES
BEFUDDLED
BENDS
BENT
BEWILDERED
BIZARRE
BLEND
BLUNDER
BOTCHED
BREAK DOWN
BREAK OUT
BREAK UP
BREAKING
BREWED
BROADCAST
BROKE
BROKEN DOWN
BROKEN UP
BUCKLES
BUILT
BUNGLED
BUSTED
BY ACCIDENT
BY ARRANGEMENT
BY MISTAKE
CALAMITOUS
CAN BE
CAPRICIOUSLY
CARELESSLY
CATASTROPHIC
CAUSES
CAVORT
CHANGE
CHANGEABLE
CHAOTIC
CHEW UP
CHOPPED UP
CHURN
CIRCLING
CIRCULATED
CLUMSY
COCKTAIL
COLLAPSE
COMBINATION
COME TO BE
COME TO GRIEF
COMES TO
COMIC
COMICAL
COMPLICATED
COMPOSE
COMPOSED
COMPRISES
CONCEALING
CONCOCT
CONFOUNDED
CONFUSE
CONSTITUENTS
CONSTRUCT
CONSTRUCTED
CONTORT
CONTORTED
CONTRAPTION
CONTRARIWISE
CONTRARY
CONTRIVANCE
CONTRIVED
CONVERSION
CONVERT
CONVERTED
CONVULSE
COOK
CORRECTED
CORRUPT
COULD BE
CRACK UP
CRACKED
CRACKED UP
CRASHED
CRAZILY
CREATE
CROOKED
CROSS
CRUDE
CRUMBLING
CRUMPLED
CRUSH
CUNNING
CURIOUSLY
DAMAGE
DANCE
DEALT WITH
DECOMPOSED
DEFECTIVE
DEFORMED
DEMENTED
DEMOLISHED
DEPLORABLY
DEPLOYED
DERANGE
DERIVED FROM
DESIGN
DESTROYED
DEVASTATED
DEVELOP
DEVIANT
DEVIATING
DEVIOUSLY
DEVISED
DIFFERENT
DIFFICULT
DILAPIDATED
DISARRANGED
DISARRAY
DISASTROUS
DISCLOSE
DISCOMPOSED
DISCONCERTED
DISCORD
DISCORDANT
DISFIGURED
DISGUISE
DISHEVELLED
DISINTEGRATED
DISLOCATE
DISMANTLED
DISORDER
DISORGANISED
DISORIENTED
DISPERSE
DISPOSED
DISQUIETED
DISRUPTED
DISSEMBLING
DISSEMINATED
DISSIPATED
DISSONANT
DISTORTED
DISTRACTED
DISTRAUGHT
DISTRESSED
DISTRIBUTED
DISTURB
DITHERING
DIVERGENT
DIVERSIFIED
DIVERT
DIVERTED
DIZZY
DOCTOR
DODDERY
DOTTY
DOUBTFULLY
DREADFUL
DRESSED
DRUNKEN
DUBIOUSLY
ECCENTRIC
EFFECT
EMBODIES
EMBROIL
EMEND
ENGENDERING
ENGINEERED
ENSEMBLE
ENTANGLED
EQUIVOCAL
ERRATICALLY
ERRING
ERRONEOUS
ERUPTING
EXCEPTIONAL
EXCITED
EXOTIC
EXPLODED
EXTRAORDINARILY
FABRICATE
FAILING
FALLACIOUS
FALSE
FALTERING
FANCIFUL
FANTASTIC
FASHION
FAULTY
FERMENTED
FICKLE
FIDDLE
FIGURING IN
FIXED
FLAWED
FLOUNDER
FLUCTUATING
FLUMMOXED
FLURRIED
FLUSTER
FOOLISHLY
FOR A CHANGE
FORCED
FORGED
FORM OF
FORMS
FORMULATING
FRACAS
FRACTURED
FRAGMENT
FREAKISH
FREE
FRENZIED
FRESH
FRISKY
FROLICKING
<soln> FROM <fodder>
FUDGE
FUNCTION
FUNNILY
FUNNY
FUSED
GARBLED
GENERATING
GET-UP
GETS FACE-LIFT
GIVES
GIVES RISE TO
GO AMOK
GO ASTRAY
GO BAD
GO BERSERK
GO OFF
GO STRAIGHT
GO TO PIECES
GO TO POT
GO TO THE DOGS
GO WRONG
GONE OFF
GROTESQUE
GROUND
GYRATES
HAPHAZARD
HAPLESS
HARASSED
HASH
HAVOC
HAYWIRE
HELTER-SKELTER
HIDDEN
HIDE
HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY
HORRIBLE
HOTCHPOTCH
HYBRID
IDLY
ILL
ILL-DISPOSED
ILL-FORMED
ILL-MADE
ILL-TREATED
ILL-USED
IMPAIRED
IMPERFECT
IMPROPER
IN A BAD WAY
IN A FASHION
IN A FERMENT
IN A FRENZY
IN A HEAP
IN A JUMBLE
IN A KNOT
IN A MESS
IN A MUDDLE
IN A RIOT
IN A TANGLE
IN A TIZZY
IN A TUMULT
IN A TURMOIL
IN A WHIRL
IN CHAOS
IN COMMOTION
IN CONFUSION
IN DISARRAY
IN DISGUISE
IN DISORDER
IN ERROR
IN KNOTS
IN ORDER
IN OTHER WORDS
IN PIECES
IN REBELLION
IN REVOLT
IN RUINS
IN SHREDS
IN TROUBLE
IN UPROAR
INACCURATE
INCOHERENT
INCONSTANT
INCORRECT
INDUCE
INFIRM
INJURED
INORDINATELY
INSANELY
INTERFERED WITH
<fodder> INTO <soln>
INTRICATE
INVOLVED
IRREGULAR
IRRITATED
JERKY
JITTERY
JOGGLE
JUGGLED
JUMBLED
KIND OF KINKY KNOTTED
LAWLESS
LET LOOSE
LIQUID
LOOSELY
LOUSILY
LOUSY
LUDICROUS
LUNATIC
MAD
MADDENING
MADE
MADE FROM
MADE OF
MADE UP
MAKE
MAKE A BUNGLE OF
MAKE A HASH OF
MAKE A MESS OF
MAKE-UP
MALADJUSTED
MALADROIT
MALFORMATION
MALFORMED
MALFUNCTION
MALTREATED
MANAGED
MANGLED
MANIFEST
MANIPULATE
MANOEUVRE
MARRED
MASHED
MATERIAL FOR
MAULED
MAYBE
MAYHEM
MEANDERING
MEDLEY
MELT
MELTED
MENDED
MERCURIAL
MESS
MESSED
MESSILY
MESSY
METAMORPHOSIS
MINCED
MINGLED
MISAPPLIED
MISBEHAVED
MISCONSTRUED
MISERABLE
MISHANDLED
MISHAP
MISREPRESENTED
MISSHAPEN
MISTAKE
MISTREATED
MISUSED
MIX
MIX-UP
MIXED
MIXTURE
MOBILE
MODEL
MODELLED
MODIFICATION
MODIFIED
MODIFY
MOLESTED
MONGREL
MOULD
MOULDED
MOVING
MUDDIED
MUDDLE
MUDDLY
MUTABLE
MUTATIVE
MUTILATED
MUTINOUS
MYSTERIOUS
NASTY
NAUGHTY
NEGOTIATED
NEW
NEW FORM OF
NEW ORDER
NEW STYLE
NEWLY FORMED
NEWLY MADE
NOT EXACTLY
NOT IN ORDER
NOT PROPERLY
NOT RIGHT
NOT STRAIGHT
NOVEL
NUTTY
OBSCURE
OBSTREPEROUS
ODD
ODD LOOKING
ODDLY
OFF
OPERATE
ORDERED
ORGANISE
ORIGINALLY
OTHERWISE
OUT
OUT OF
OUT OF GEAR
OUT OF JOINT
OUT OF HAND
OUT OF ORDER
OUT OF SORTS
OUTCOME OF
OUTED
OUTLANDISH
OVERTHROW
OVERTURN
PECULIAR
PECULIAR LOOKING
PECULIARLY
PERFIDIOUS
PERHAPS
PERMUTATION
PERPLEXED
PERVERSELY
PERVERTED
PHONEY
PLACED
PLAGUED
PLASTIC
PLAYED
POORLY
POSITIONED
POSSIBLY
POTENTIALLY
POWDERED
PREPARED
PROBLEMATIC
PROCESSING
PROPERLY
PULVERISED
PUT ANOTHER WAY
PUT OUT
PUT RIGHT
PUT STRAIGHT
QUARRIED QUEER QUESTIONABLE
RABID
RAGGED
RAMBLING
RAN AMOK
RAVAGE
RAVELLED
RE-ORDERED
READJUSTED
REARRANGED
REARRANGEMENT
REASSEMBLED
REBEL
REBELLIOUS
REBUILT
RECALCITRANT
RECAST
RECOLLECTED
RECONSTRUCTED
RECREATE
RECTIFIED
REDESIGNED
REFINE
REFORM
REFRACTORY
REGENERATE
REGULATED
REMADE
REMODELLED
RENDERING
RENOVATED
REORGANISED
REPACK
REPAIR
REPLACED
REPRESENT
REPRODUCE
RESETTLE
RESHAPE
RESHAPED
RESHUFFLED
RESOLVED
RESORT
RESULTING FROM
RESULTING IN
REVEAL
REVIEWED
REVISE
REVISED
REVOLTING
REVOLUTIONARY
REVOLVING
REWORD
REWRITE
RICKETY
RIDICULOUS
RIGGED
RIOTOUS
ROCKY
ROTTEN
ROUGH
ROVING
RUDE
RUFFLED
RUINED
RUINOUS
RUINS
RUM
RUMPLED
RUN AMOK
RUNNING WILD
RUPTURED
SADLY
SCATTER
SCRAMBLED
SCRUFFY
SEQUENCED
SERVED UP
SET
SET DIFFERENTLY
SET OFF
SET OUT
SETTING
SHAKEN
SHAKY
SHAMBLES
SHAPED
SHATTERED
SHIFT
SHILLY-SHALLY
SHUFFLE
SHUFFLED
SILLY
SINGULAR
SKITTISH
SLIPPING
SLIPSHOD
SLOPPY
SLOVENLY
SMASH
SOMEHOW
SORRY
SORT
SORT OF
SORTED
SPINNING
SPLIT
SPOILT
SPORTING
SPURIOUS
SQUIGGLY
STAGGERED
STEWED
STIR
STIRRED
STORMY
STRAIGHT
STRANGE
STRANGELY
STRAYING
STRICKEN
STUMBLING
STUPID
SUBSTITUTE
SUBTLE
SUBVERT
SURPRISINGLY
SWAPPED
SWIRLING
SWITCHED
TAMPERED WITH
TANGLED
TATTERED
TEMPER
TEMPESTUOUS
TENTATIVE
TERRIBLY
THE RESULT OF
THROWN
TIDIED
TIPPED
TIPSY
TOPSY-TURVY
TORN
TORTUOUS
TOSSED
TOUSLE
TRANSFORM
TRANSLATED
TRANSMUTED
TRANSPORT
TRANSPOSED
TREACHEROUS
TREATED
TRICK
TROUBLED
TUMBLE-DOWN
TUMBLING
TUMULTUOUS
TURBULENT
TURNED
TURNED OUT
TWIST
UNCERTAIN
UNCLEAR
UNCOMMON
UNDECIDED
UNDISCIPLINED
UNDOING
UNDONE
UNEASY
UNFAMILIAR
UNHAPPY
UNNATURAL
UNORTHODOX
UNRAVELLED
UNRELIABLE
UNREST
UNRESTRAINED
UNRULY
UNSETTLED
UNSETTLING
UNSOUND
UNSTABLE
UNSTEADY
UNTIDY
UNTIE
UNUSUAL
UNWONTED
UPHEAVAL
UPSET
USAGE
USE <fodder> FOR <soln>
VACILLATING
VAGUE
VANDALISE
VARIABLE
VARIABLE
VARIED
VARIETY
VARIOUSLY
VARY
VERSION
VIOLENTLY
VOLATILE
WANDERING
WARPED
WARRING
WAVERING
WAY OUT
WAYWARD
WEAVE
WEIRDLY
WELL-FORMED
WELL-ORDERED
WELL-ORGANISED
WELL-VARIED
WENT OFF
WENT TO PIECES
WHIRLING
WILD
WILTS
WOBBLY
WOOLLY
WORK OUT
WORRIED
WOVEN
WRECK
WRITHING
WRONGLY

Thanks to Ganesh for his inputs in compiling this list.

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4 comments

Māyā said...

I'm wondering if "un-" can be used as an anagrind, since when it's added to a word it negates it, "unclear" meaning "not clear" and so on.

For example if I wanted to indicate an anagram of "DONE", could I use "undone" to indicate that the solver is looking for a word that isn't "done" (e.g. "node") ?

I suspect the answer is no, but I'm curious to know where the line is drawn...

Shuchi said...

Hi Māyā. You are right, the answer is no :)

For one, if we say something is not(X), it doesn't exactly indicate an anagram of X. I would stick to anagrinds that more persuasively suggest jumbling.

You might like to read these too in the context of your question:
https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2011/11/elision.html
https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2009/01/wordplay-inversion.html

Māyā said...

Thanks, Shuchi, for the reply and the links.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely not. Given dictionary a very simple string matching algorithm can create anagrams really quickly. However. If there was a program that was fed strings and it figured out that it was being fed anagrams and learned how to create them it would be an intelligent algorithm. Please note the algorithm does not know anagram rules but derives them from data it was fed. That is an intelligent algorithm. https://wordmaker.info/how-many/indicator.html