WSJ Crossword August 19, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 19, 2026, “Thumbs Down,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 80 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is ULTRAVIOLETRAYS at 15 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 SWIG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is SHAH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is SAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. 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.
13 Across is ELENA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is LUXE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is LUAU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is VOLKSWAGEN, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with V and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
18 Across is ODIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is EEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
20 Across is CAVEDRAWING, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with C and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
22 Across is LAX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with L and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Across is YSL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with Y and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is FITIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with F and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Across is ARC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with A and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is SYNTH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with S and ends with H, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is AGUA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is IMHOME, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
37 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.
38 Across is ULTRAVIOLETRAYS, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with U and ends with S, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
41 Across is LOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Across is LYNDON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with L and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
43 Across is ELMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is TORSO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is OAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is GALEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with G and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Across is PEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is TOP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
51 Across is ROTISSERIES, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
57 Across is JOB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with J and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Across is AMOK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is OPERAHOUSE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 10 letters.
63 Across is KALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with K and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is NINO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is ERNST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
66 Across is ENDS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is ECON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is NOGO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is SLOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is WELL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with W and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is INK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with I and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is GASCAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with G and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is SLAV, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is HUGE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is AXED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is HENRY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
9 Down is SLOWLY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
10 Down is AUDI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is PAIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with P and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is SUNG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is EVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Down is WAX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with W and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is ASSET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is LIAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is FAULT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with F and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is IGLOO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is TUTOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is AMINO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is RHODA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is COLOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is NIALL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is TRYME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
33 Down is HASON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is IVY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is MEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with M and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is ALOES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Down is REAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with R and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Down is SPIKES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. 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.
47 Down is GOSHEN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with G and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is ASONE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is TEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Down is RAKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is OMAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is TOLD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with T and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is EPIC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is RENO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is IRON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is JUNG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with J and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is OSSO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is BET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is ORO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 37 Across and 43 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.