Velvet finish? crossword clue
26 Across · WSJ Crossword, August 6, 2026 · 3 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Velvet finish?” is EEN. It appears as 26 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of August 6, 2026, a Thursday puzzle titled “Of Vital Importance” by Matt Gaffney, and it fills 3 squares running left to right from row 5, column 10 of the 15×15 grid.
The question mark at the end of the clue signals wordplay: the surface reading is a misdirection, and the answer fits a punning or figurative sense of the words. The entry begins with E and ends with N, and contains 2 vowels and 1 consonant. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down 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 EEN:
- “___ as the green-growing bud unfolds”: LongfellowAug 7, 2026
- Still, to ShakespeareMay 19, 2026