What is Blossom?
Blossom is a calm, flower-shaped word game from Merriam-Webster. Seven letters are arranged as a flower, with one letter in the centre and six around it as petals. You make words from those letters, and every word has to use the centre letter. Unlike some word-finding games, Blossom doesn't ask you to find everything: you have a limited number of words to play, so the challenge is choosing good ones. Longer words score more, and a word that uses all seven letters earns a big bonus, so it pays to look for the long word hiding in the flower before you settle for short, easy ones. Each day also has a bonus petal letter that gives extra points. Blossom suits people who like Spelling Bee but want a game they can finish in a few minutes, and it rewards a broad vocabulary more than speed. It's a gentle, satisfying puzzle for a quiet moment.
How to play
- Make words from the seven letters. Every word must include the centre letter.
- Longer words score more, and using all seven letters earns a bonus.
- You only get a set number of words, so pick your best ones.
Quick facts
- Typical time
- 3–6 min
- Difficulty
- Easy–medium
- Price
- Free to play.
- Account
- Not needed.
- Past puzzles
- Yes. There's an Archive button on the game's start screen.
- On a phone
- Works in your phone's browser. Nothing to install.
- Turns
- You play twelve words. On each turn one petal is the bonus letter.
Tips to get better
- Go long every time. You only get twelve words, and long words score far more than short ones. A four-letter word is close to a wasted turn.
- Look for the seven-letter word. A word that uses all seven letters earns a big bonus. Spend a minute searching before you play anything.
- Use the bonus petal twice. The highlighted letter scores extra every time it appears in your word. A word that uses it two or three times is ideal.
- Hold a good word for the right turn. The bonus petal changes each turn. If you've spotted a long word with two Ts, save it until T lights up.
- Stretch your words. Letters can be reused, so add endings such as -ING, -ED, -ER or -NESS wherever the flower allows.
Who it's for
Try Blossom if you like the idea of Spelling Bee but not the length. Twelve words and you're done, which makes it a neat five-minute game. It rewards a big vocabulary, so it can feel harsh if English isn't your first language. There's little tension and no way to fail. You're only ever trying to beat your own score.
