Subtle hiss crossword clue
56 Down · WSJ Crossword, August 20, 2026 · 4 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Subtle hiss” is PSST. It appears as 56 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of August 20, 2026, a Thursday puzzle titled “Your Journey Begins Now” by Matt Gaffney, and it fills 4 squares running top to bottom from row 12, column 15 of the 15×15 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 P and ends with T, and contains 0 vowels and 4 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer PSST:
- Audible alternative to a tap on the shoulderJul 26, 2026
- “Hey, you there!”Jul 19, 2026
- Subtler alternative to “Hey, you!”Jul 14, 2026
- Subtle summonsJun 25, 2026