🔥 20 free puzzles
Hard Animal Word Search
20 hard animal word searches for keen solvers who enjoy a proper hunt.
Hard word searches use all 8 directions, including backwards and up, and words are allowed to cross and share letters.
Or make a brand new one
All hard animal puzzles
- 110×10 · 11 words
- 215×15 · 14 words
- 320×20 · 20 words
- 410×10 · 11 words
- 515×15 · 18 words
- 620×20 · 21 words
- 710×10 · 11 words
- 815×15 · 16 words
- 920×20 · 22 words
- 1010×10 · 12 words
- 1115×15 · 18 words
- 1220×20 · 22 words
- 1310×10 · 11 words
- 1415×15 · 17 words
- 1520×20 · 20 words
- 1610×10 · 10 words
- 1715×15 · 18 words
- 1820×20 · 21 words
- 1910×10 · 10 words
- 2015×15 · 18 words
Puzzle guide
About hard animal word search puzzles
What they are
Hard animal word searches use all eight directions. A SNAKE can slither backwards along a row, an EAGLE can fly straight up, and words are allowed to cross and share letters. It is a proper hunt, especially on the 20×20 grids.
How to play
When you spot a promising letter, check all eight neighbours around it for the second letter of the animal. Backwards words read right to left, so OTTER might appear as RETTO.
Tips
Search for the last letter as well as the first; it doubles your chances of catching a reversed word. Crossings help too: once you find HEDGEHOG, look for animals sharing its letters.
Who they suit
Hard animal puzzles are aimed at older children, teenagers and adults. They make a satisfying challenge for anyone who finds the easier levels too quick.
Printing
Print hard grids one per page so the letters stay large enough to circle cleanly where words cross. Answers print separately.
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Animal riddles to go with your word search
A word search trains your eye for patterns; a riddle trains your mind to see the trick. Here are a few riddles with answers, then more brain games from the club.