Gave an edge to crossword clue
44 Down · WSJ Crossword, June 20, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Gave an edge to” is HONED. It appears as 44 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of June 20, 2026, a Saturday puzzle titled “Six-Packs” by Mike Shenk, and it fills 5 squares running top to bottom from row 7, column 4 of the 21×21 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with H and ends with D, and contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. This weekend puzzle uses the largest grid of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
HONED 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.