Partner Spotlight: TheWordFinder

The Word Finder began as a simple idea from its creator, Praveen Latchamsetty, and has grown into a go to destination for anyone who loves word games and puzzles. You can play word games, explore the dictionary, find answers and hints for your favorite titles, use a mix of writing tools, and plenty more.From the Anagram Solver, to Connections Hints, to the ever-popular Crossword Solver, The Word Finder has built a community of players who enjoy sharpening their skills, solving challenges, and finding joy in words.

We recently had a chance to chat with Praveen about how it all started, how the site has evolved, and what keeps this community coming back.

1. Tell us a bit about your journey.

"Honestly, it all started with curiosity. Years ago, I picked up a book on PHP and decided to teach myself how to code. I wouldn’t call myself a great developer by any stretch, but I learned just enough to bring an idea to life—and that became The Word Finder, which I first launched in 2006.

I’ve always loved word games growing up. I’d play along with shows on the Game Show Network, and later, word puzzles became something fun I’d do with my girlfriend—now my wife. When I made the site public in 2006, I remember how exciting it was to see people from all over the world discovering and using it. Watching something I built from scratch reach people so far away was incredibly energizing. It reminded me why I love building things that help others have fun with words."

2. Looking back, how has your journey with TheWordFinder changed since you first started out?

"It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly twenty years since I first launched The Word Finder.
Back then, it was literally just me—designing, coding, and maintaining everything on my own. These days, it’s a real team effort, and I’m lucky to work with an amazing group who help with everything from brainstorming ideas to design and development. That’s been one of the biggest and most rewarding changes—seeing something that started as a solo side project grow into a collaborative effort.

There have also been a few major turning points over the years. The launch of Words With Friends was one of them—it came out right as mobile gaming was exploding, and it felt like suddenly word games were everywhere. People were playing with their friends and families in ways that felt fun and social, and that energy and user base definitely carried over to our own tools and games.

Then Wordle came along and I think it brought in a large wave of casual word game fans who wanted something quick and satisfying to play every day. Not surprisingly, the most commonly searched words in our dictionary our site are five-letter ones! We built a Wordle Solver and expanded into more daily games, which have become really popular since 2022.

More recently, AI has started to play a bigger role in what we do. We’ve been using it to help generate and refine clues and definitions, which has opened up a lot of creative possibilities. It’s been fascinating to see how much the landscape has changed—but what hasn’t changed is that people still love playing with words."

3. What’s something you enjoy most about running TheWordFinder?

"For me, it always comes back to the people who use the site. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing players from all over the world engaging with the games and tools we’ve built. Even after all these years, launching something new and watching the real-time analytics light up never gets old—it’s that mix of excitement and connection that keeps me going.

I also really enjoy hearing from our users directly—whether it’s through an email, a kind note, or a random conversation where someone mentions they use The Word Finder. It’s meaningful to know that something we’ve created can either help someone with their writing or give them a few minutes of fun in their day. Those moments remind me why I started all of this in the first place."

4. Do you have any advice for website owners who are just starting out?

"I’d say: work on something you genuinely enjoy. You’re going to spend a lot of time on it—probably more than you expect—so it helps if you really like what you’re building. When you care about the topic or the product, the work feels less like a grind and more like something you get to do. That passion comes through in the final result, and I think users can sense it too."

‍5. What’s next for TheWordFinder?
"We’ve got something really fun in the works—a physical puzzle book, which I’m super excited about. It’s only our second-ever physical product (we released a card game a few years back), and this one has been something I’ve thought about for a long-time but never quite gotten around to.

The idea actually came up during a team offsite, when one of our team members mentioned creating something where we can bring our favorite puzzles into book form. That kind of re-lit the spark, and now we’re making it happen. It’s been rewarding to take what started as a digital-only experience and turn it into something people can hold in their hands."
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6. You’ve been working with Publisher Collective for a few years now. What’s kept you on board?

"I’ve really enjoyed working with the team at Publisher Collective. Over the years, I’ve tried quite a few ad networks, and what’s always stood out about them is how genuine and transparent they are. They don’t make empty promises—they deliver results and communicate honestly, which goes a long way in this space.

The performance has been consistently strong, and the account reps have been incredible to work with—responsive, helpful, and always available when needed. I’ve been partnered with them since 2018, and it’s been a great seven years. I can honestly say they’ve been one of the most reliable partners I’ve had."