How to do a saved search on message(email) with a filter as either subject or message contains "abc" or "xy" or "yz" Would like not to go down the approach where I have to put multiple filters for each keywords.

Have you tried the approach of using formula(text)?

Not sure how I can pass multiple keywords in it.

or try this approach. I think your case is just the same http://www.netsuiterp.com/2019/03/multiple-select-for-name-field-on-saved.html

Yes almost same. I just want instead of "name is hold", I want "name contains hold", how to put that in the formula?

if you really want to use contain, you;; have to do it one by one 🤔

Well that sucks. Had 20+ unique keywords. Can create the filter dynamically in script. Thought there might be something in saved search as well.

in script this is possible.. but in saved search, this is much of static criteria 😐 Have you explore the Case When?

Couldn't find a way to use the operator contained in the search formula numeric, where I could implement case when statements. Had to go with a manual approach only.