WSJ Crossword August 2, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 2, 2026, “For a Song,” is a Sunday puzzle by Mike Shenk 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 DWIGHTTWILLEY 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 ISLET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is DELI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is KALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with K and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is OPENS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is OMAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is OXEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is WAGYU, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with W and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is DINO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is REED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ARIANAGRANDE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters.
23 Across is NET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Across is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is LEANER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with L and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is EMO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Across is SEAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is OVA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is DWIGHTTWILLEY, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 13 letters.
36 Across is ACRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is IAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is OARS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with O 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.
40 Across is SHIRLEYMANSON, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
45 Across is EEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is ASAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is ACT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is AFLCIO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is FIR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with F and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
51 Across is ABA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Across is ARTGARFUNKEL, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with A and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
58 Across is QTIP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with Q and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Across is ELSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is BOISE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is BORE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is RUST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Across is INTER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is STAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is YENS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with Y 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.
68 Across is NEATO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with N and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is IOWAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with I and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is SPARE, a 5-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 5 letters.
3 Down is LEGIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is ENYA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is TSUNAMI, a 7-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 7 letters.
6 Down is DODGE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is EMIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is LANA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is IRONLAW, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with I and ends with W, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is KOREA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with K and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is AXE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
13 Down is END, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is ALOG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with A and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is DEMI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is NOLAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is EVER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is RAYS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with R 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.
29 Down is EWER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is STAMP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
31 Down is ETNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is DRILL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
34 Down is HIYA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is LOOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is ASEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is CHEF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with C and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Down is LAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is ESOTERY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is NAIF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with N and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Down is SCRUBIN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
49 Down is CAPER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
50 Down is FRETS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with F 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.
51 Down is AKITA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is BESET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is ALERO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is GLUE, 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.
56 Down is ASSN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is NONE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is QBS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with Q 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.
59 Down is TOT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is IRA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 42 black squares and 16 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.