WSJ Crossword August 16, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 16, 2026, “Corrode Test,” is a Sunday puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is TAURUSTHEBULL at 13 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 DAHL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is SEWN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is TUDOR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is ASIA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is OREO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ANORA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is BANS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Across is WALRUSTUSK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with W and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
20 Across is ADDED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is SSN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Across is OBOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is TAURUSTHEBULL, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with T and ends with L, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
28 Across is PEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Across is ANDEAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Across is ACME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is DONTGO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Across is IRA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is BRAND, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Across is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Across is SOPUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is COY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Across is ISLAND, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Across is PATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
49 Across is SPIGOT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is TOME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is CYRUSTHEGREAT, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with C and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
59 Across is SWUM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Across is DIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Across is SALMA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is CITRUSTREE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
67 Across is TIER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is ALIAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
69 Across is BRAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with B and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
70 Across is OHNO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
71 Across is BENTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
72 Across is YARD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with Y and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
73 Across is RUST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is DABAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is ASADA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is HINDU, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with H and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is LASERPEN, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with L and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is SOW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
7 Down is WELSH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with W and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
8 Down is NORSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is TAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
10 Down is UNTOLD, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with U and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is DOUBLEIPA, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters.
12 Down is ORSO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is RAKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Down is UNBAG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 10. It begins with U and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Down is DUE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Down is SAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Down is TROLL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with T and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Down is UNOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is ARUT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is NAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with N 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.
32 Down is ABCS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. 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.
33 Down is CROP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Down is MAYICUTIN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with M and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
36 Down is NEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is TENTH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with T and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
40 Down is DIOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Down is OPERATOR, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with O and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
46 Down is STUDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with S 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.
47 Down is DOE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Down is GYMRAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
52 Down is MGS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with M and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Down is SITBY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
55 Down is TERRA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is ELIHU, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with E and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is AMENS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is TAROT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Down is SCAB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is WILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Down is USO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
65 Down is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
66 Down is END, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 36 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.