WSJ Crossword August 17, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 17, 2026, “Back Lot,” is a Monday puzzle by Kevin Shustack 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 PLANEPARALLEL 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 VOCAB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with V and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is AQUA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is GNAW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with G and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ARUBA, a 5-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 5 letters.
15 Across is SURF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
16 Across is OUZO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is LOPEZ, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with L and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is PISA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is ALTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is PLANEPARALLEL, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 3. It begins with P and ends with L, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
23 Across is DUA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is ANN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Across is MISC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with M and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
27 Across is INTERESTFREE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
32 Across is FUEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with F and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is RAIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is MAKEITADOUBLE, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with M and ends with E, with 7 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
41 Across is NDAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
42 Across is FIVE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is CLOTHESVALET, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with C and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
48 Across is NCAA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Across is RUE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Across is YRS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
52 Across is PARKINGINREAR, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
57 Across is ISEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Across is CAME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is ROOMY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is NATO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is IPAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
64 Across is ENSUE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is GLEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with G and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is SEXT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
67 Across is DEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with D 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.
Down
1 Down is VAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with V and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is ORO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is CUPPATEA, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with C and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
4 Down is ABEL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is BAZAAR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with B and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is ASPENS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
7 Down is QUIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with Q and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is URSA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is AFAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is GOALIE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with G and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
11 Down is NULLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
12 Down is AZTEC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is WOOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with W and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Down is NNE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with N and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Down is AMENU, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is DIF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with D and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is UNUM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with U and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is ELK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with E and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Down is TRASH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with T and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
30 Down is FAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with F and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is RIO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is ENLAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with E and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is IDO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is TAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is BFA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with B and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is LILYROSE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
40 Down is EVER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Down is ETS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with E 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.
44 Down is CAKEON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with C and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is ERNEST, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is SUR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Down is VEERED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with V and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is NASAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is CRETE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is PING, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is NCIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is GAPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is IMAX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with I and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is AONE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is MUD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. This is a cross-reference clue, so solve the referenced entry first.
61 Down is YES, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 33 Across and 41 Down entries, with 48 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.