WSJ Crossword August 11, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 11, 2026, “Imagine Dragons,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Steve Jopek with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is SMOKINGWINGS at 12 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 ANGUS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is ELSA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is SOAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is PLUCK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
15 Across is KEEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with K and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ANNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is SCALEDBACK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
19 Across is MAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ESCAPEE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
21 Across is TABBIES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with T 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.
23 Across is TART, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Across is EARLY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is SMOKINGWINGS, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters.
32 Across is COMIC, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is IRAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is DJS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with D and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Across is APEX, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is PESKY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
40 Across is ERIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is TEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is FELT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Across is AGAVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is FLAMETHROWER, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with F and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
47 Across is PATIO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with P and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Across is DIET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is AZALEAS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
54 Across is TRIPLES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
59 Across is CURE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is WHITECLAWS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with W and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
62 Across is TROT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
63 Across is ROPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is LOMAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is SETS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S 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.
66 Across is YEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with Y and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is EDENS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
Down
1 Down is APSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is NLCS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with N and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is GUAC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with G and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is UCLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is SKEPTIC, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with S and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
6 Down is EKBERG, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is LEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is SECT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is ALKA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is SAMBAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
11 Down is ONAIR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with O and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is ANSEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is PATSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
18 Down is DEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with D and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is BEGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with B 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.
24 Down is TWISTED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Down is SCAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is MOPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is OMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is KIX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with K and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Down is IRK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with I and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is NAY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is DRAW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with D and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Down is JIVE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with J and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is SEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is PEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Down is ELM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with E and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is EGO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Down is FLOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Down is ARTICLE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is FILETS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with F and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
45 Down is TITTER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is HERE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is PACTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Down is AZURE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is TAROT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is AWRY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is SHOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is PLOD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with P and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is LAME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is EWAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is SSNS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is IPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 35 Across and 43 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.