WSJ Crossword August 10, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 10, 2026, “Playing Hard,” is a Monday puzzle by Braden Weaver with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is IRONMAIDEN at 10 letters.
Every answer is listed below in grid order, Across first and then Down, with a short explanation of how the entry sits in the grid. Use the Definition link under any entry to pull the dictionary meaning of the answer word, or click the clue to open its own page with past appearances and neighboring clues.
Across
1 Across is LABS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
5 Across is AMPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
9 Across is OPERA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is ITLL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with I and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Across is NOLA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is VOWED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with V and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is STEELYDAN, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is ELAND, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is PADUA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is ENSHRINE, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
23 Across is TSPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is AAHS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
26 Across is ALTHEA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is TECATE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
33 Across is MAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with M and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is IRONMAIDEN, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with I and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
38 Across is ITA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is SNIFFAT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Across is AMT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is NICKELBACK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with N and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
43 Across is PPE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with P and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is ONTIME, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Across is EDITOR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
48 Across is MOST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
50 Across is ARON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is POOLSIDE, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
54 Across is LATKE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Across is GARNI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is METALBAND, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with M and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
61 Across is EGGON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is OMNI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is IKEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is TESSA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is NOAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with N and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is TEEM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with T and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is LISP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ATTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is BLED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is SLEUTH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is ANY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is MODES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is PLAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is SANSA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is OVERHEAT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with O and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is POLISCI, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
11 Down is EWAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is RENE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ADD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Down is LASE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is HATMAKER, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with H and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
24 Down is PAINLESS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
26 Down is AMINO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is LATIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is TRACT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
30 Down is ADAPT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is TEMPO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is ENTER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is RIB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with R and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is OFA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is NFC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with N and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Down is SEMOLINA, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
42 Down is KIMONOS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with K and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
46 Down is DOLL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Down is INABIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with I and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is TIMON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is AETNA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is PAGE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is ORGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is DEMO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is TAKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is KNEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with K and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is EDAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with E and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is GET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is AIM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 35 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
Prefer to solve it yourself first? The homepage lists every clue for the latest puzzle without answers, and the archive covers every WSJ crossword in our index by date. The official puzzle is published on the WSJ Puzzles page.