Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco
How often do you personally sit down and enjoy a Word Search puzzle; once a week, perhaps? Perhaps you like to do a Word Search every Tuesday and Thursday? Whatever the case may be, most “wordy” people like to do Word Search puzzles on a regular basis.
I have always enjoyed doing Word Search puzzles. What started out as something I tried as a kid has flourished into one of my most enjoyed pastimes! I started at a very young age, thanks to my grandmother. Still, to this day, I find myself looking for spare time to sit down with my latest Word Search puzzle.
That being said, it has recently been brought to my attention that there are drawbacks and disadvantages of Word Search, and I would love to share these with you. While I do not find any of these disadvantages particularly off-putting, it is understandable why some might. If you would like to take a look at each of these disadvantages and drawbacks, simply read on below.
13 disadvantages and drawbacks of Word Search puzzles:
1. Word Search takes time.
Yup, if you are looking for quick and easy entertainment, you will not find it in a Word Search. Some Word Search puzzles are hard work and take time to complete. For some people, a puzzle that requires so much time and attention is simply not ideal, and therefore, Word Search puzzles simply do not feature on their “to do” list.
2. Being addicted to Word Search can take you away from work/studies.
The more you do Word Search puzzles, the more you will want to do Word Search puzzles. That is a fact – I am living proof of that! It can become quite an addictive pastime if you aren’t careful about balancing your time.
Unfortunately, when anything becomes addictive, it can be hard to put down or walk away from. That means that you will start to steal time from your work and studies. This is a serious downside as you might become distracted or frustrated when you need to work or study.
3. To keep the benefits that come with Word Searches, you’ll need to keep working on them.
When you start working out your brain, you will need to keep working it out. Sounds like effort, doesn’t it? Well, it is effort. Just like any part of the human body, when you work out the brain and it becomes stronger, it needs to be consistently worked out to maintain its fitness levels. With the brain, you can’t do one Word Search and expect to retain the benefits. This can seem like a hobby that needs a lot of effort, and of course, once you have brain fitness, you will want to keep it. That can be quite inconvenient, can’t it?
4. Being engrossed in Word Search puzzles can appear anti-social.
Just how social can you really be when all you want to do is Word Search puzzles all the time? Do you find yourself avoiding eye contact, focusing on word lists, and “zoning out” while doing a puzzle?
When you are all over a Word Search puzzle, fully engrossed in solving it, chances are that you will not hear what people are saying around you or be interested in them. This can make a person appear quite anti-social. I am known to whip out a Word Search puzzle even when there are visitors around – that is not a great way to appear social, is it?
5. Word Search puzzles can become too easy to solve.
As your vocabulary, spelling, context clue fluency, and pattern recognition skills improve, so will your Word Search puzzle-solving skills. Your skills will improve, and while that can be great, it can also be quite annoying in the end. You will find that it becomes easier and easier for you to solve puzzles, and it may appear as if the puzzles are becoming too easy. When a puzzle gets “too easy”, it can become boring.
6. Word Search puzzles require you to have some spelling/reading skills.
For young kids with no spelling and reading skills, Word Search puzzles can be no fun at all. They are somewhat excluded because they don’t have the basic skills required to puzzle it out. To do a Word Search puzzle, you must be able to read and recognize word sounds. That being said, reading and spelling skills can improve the more one is exposed to Word Search puzzles.
7. Being without Word Search puzzles on hand can lead to withdrawal.
Withdrawals, you say? Yes, it is true! This one I have experienced myself and it is extremely unpleasant. When you have nothing else to do and you do not have access to your regular Word Search puzzles, withdrawal symptoms will kick in. You can become moody, angry, frustrated, and even a little sad.
8. Doing too many Word Searches can lead to people not understanding you.
Yup, it is true. The more you improve on your vocabulary, the better you will be able to communicate, or will you? Your vocab will certainly become more extensive, but that is not always a good thing, though. When you start using and understanding words that no one else knows or understands, people may start to find it hard to understand you.
9. Word Search is a mild brain workout compared to Crossword puzzles.
What if I told you that Word Search requires all of that effort, but it’s still not really the best you can do for your brain fitness? There is no denying that Word Search is a good brain work out, but when compared to other word puzzles such as Crossword puzzles, it is considered somewhat mild. Crosswords require people to actually think up a word, whereas Word Search puzzles provide the word.
10. Being unable to solve the puzzle can result in frustration.
If you can’t find a word on the grid, chances are that frustration will kick in. Actually, it definitely will kick in! The longer you struggle to find the hidden word, the more frustration can mount. As you can imagine, this can become extremely frustrating and may even result in an angry outburst or a temper tantrum. And that is never any real fun, is it?
11. Doing Word Search puzzles may take you away from your close relationships.
I have, on a few occasions, put off spending quality time with my family just so that I can do a Word Search puzzle. While it has been fun for me, it is probably not so much fun for the loved ones that I have ignored or let down. If you are worried about neglecting your family, you should probably stay away from possible Word Search addiction.
12. Doing Word Search puzzles may start to cost you.
Just like all pastimes and hobbies, Word Search puzzles can start to cost money. Every Word Search book that you buy will cost money. When you download paid apps for Word Search on your phone, it will cost you. When you constantly buy local newspapers just for the included Word Search, it costs you. You might, however, find free Word Search puzzles online that you can print for yourself.
13. Word Search puzzles can be tiring if you do not like to think.
Some people just do not like to think too much. I personally love a good mental workout through thinking, but if you prefer your entertainment to come easily and be uncomplicated, Word Search puzzles are not quite going to do it for you. If you do not like to think, you might think that these puzzles are just too tiring.
Last Word
Who would have thought that a Word Search puzzle could have any disadvantages and drawbacks attached! I certainly didn’t when I was first informed of such. If you have been wondering if there are any downsides to doing Word Search puzzles regularly, now you know… yes, there is!
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who enjoy sharing their knowledge about their favorite games with others!
JC Franco
JC Franco serves as a New York-based editor for Gamesver. His interest for board games centers around chess, a pursuit he began in elementary school at the age of 9. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, JC brings a blend of business acumen and creative insight to his role. Beyond his editorial endeavors, he is a certified USPTA professional, imparting his knowledge in tennis to enthusiasts across the New York City Metropolitan area.