WSJ Crossword August 13, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 13, 2026, “Product Recall,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 80 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is EDITMENU at 8 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 SRO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is TAZO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Across is SILOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Across is HER, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with H and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is OXEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is DASANI, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with D and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is EDITMENU, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with U, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
18 Across is ENAMEL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 10. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
19 Across is AFORE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is SMUTBALL, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
22 Across is ROLAIDS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with R 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.
25 Across is ICEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Across is XES, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with X and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Across is AINGE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Across is LASH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with L and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Across is HONDA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is FANTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with F and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is ARI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is AGESAGO, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with A and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Across is GYM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with G and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
43 Across is PILOT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is BOLD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Across is BELAY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Across is ROE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
53 Across is DART, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Across is DENEUVE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with D and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
58 Across is LAIDBACK, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with L and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
62 Across is INTEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is ENSUES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
64 Across is NAIVEART, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with N and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
67 Across is EDICTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E 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.
68 Across is OBOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 8. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is TSO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
70 Across is RISKS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
71 Across is XENA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 8. It begins with X and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
72 Across is EON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is SHEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is REDFOX, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with R and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is ORIOLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is TOMEI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with T and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is AXE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is ZEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with Z and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is ONUS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is SANTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is ISABELA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is LAMA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is ONEL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is SILL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Down is DEUCE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with D and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Down is TRASH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with T and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
21 Down is MIG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with M and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Down is DANG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Down is SIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is NASAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is ANG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with A and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Down is HAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with H and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is OAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is FOR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with F and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is APB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is RIO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is ILL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with I and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is ATAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is GAYE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Down is ODDDUCK, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with O and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is IRENE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is BRASS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ETC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
51 Down is OUTATE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Down is EVERSO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
54 Down is ABETS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
56 Down is NIVEA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with N and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is ELTON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is LEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is ANDI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is ISIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with I 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.
61 Down is KNOX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with K and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Down is ABE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
66 Down is ION, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 43 Down entries, with 42 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
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.