Catchall category: Abbr. crossword clue
26 Across · WSJ Crossword, August 17, 2026 · 4 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Catchall category: Abbr.” is MISC. It appears as 26 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of August 17, 2026, a Monday puzzle titled “Back Lot” by Kevin Shustack, and it fills 4 squares running left to right from row 5, column 11 of the 15×15 grid.
The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials rather than a full word. The entry begins with M and ends with C, and contains 1 vowel and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Monday puzzles are the most approachable of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
MISC has not appeared as an answer in any other WSJ puzzle in our index, which runs from May 2026 onward. It will be listed here the next time it turns up.