Political attack, of a sort crossword clue
62 Down · WSJ Crossword, August 7, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Political attack, of a sort” is SMEAR. It appears as 62 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of August 7, 2026, a Friday puzzle titled “Military Dress” by Alan DerKazarian, and it fills 5 squares running top to bottom from row 10, column 7 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 S and ends with R, 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. Friday puzzles are the Journal’s contest crosswords with a hidden meta answer, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer SMEAR:
- Drag through the mudJun 25, 2026
- Printer problemJun 12, 2026