WSJ Crossword August 20, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 20, 2026, “Your Journey Begins Now,” is a Thursday puzzle by Matt Gaffney with 78 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 HADNOENDINSIGHT 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 BARBQ, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with Q, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is DIMS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is URAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with U and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ADIEU, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with U, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ONCE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is NADA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is HADNOENDINSIGHT, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with H and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
20 Across is AYE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Across is ODE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Across is ATOOT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is NONEXISTENCE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with N and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
27 Across is ATEAMS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A 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.
30 Across is CUES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with C 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.
31 Across is PUMAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
32 Across is DOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with D and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is IPA, 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.
37 Across is OFUNKNOWNORIGIN, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with O and ends with N, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
41 Across is PTS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
42 Across is EINS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is ASOLD, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
44 Across is WORN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with W and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Across is OSPREY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Across is OCEANOGRAPHY, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
52 Across is LARGO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Across is AGE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Across is TIP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is MINOROBJECTIONS, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M 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.
62 Across is ONIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is MAIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is BARTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
65 Across is SEES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is GOVT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is SNOOT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is BAHA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ADAY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is RIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is BEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with B and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is QUO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with Q and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is DONDE, 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 INDEX, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with I and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is MCI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with M and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is SEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is UNITES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with U and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is RAGON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is ADHOC, 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 LATTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is EONS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with E 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.
19 Down is SATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Down is NAAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is OMSK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with O and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Down is ICONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
26 Down is SUMO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Down is APOP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is TUFT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is EMUS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with E 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.
32 Down is DOING, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with D and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is OWN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with O and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is IGOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is PILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is ANDY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is NERO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is RASH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with R and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is ISPY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Down is WAGONS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is ONOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is OPEC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with O and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is OLMOS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is CAINE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ERNIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is RAJIV, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with R and ends with V, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is AGENT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is TORO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is INTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is PSST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is OMG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with O and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is BAO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is TBS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is IAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 33 Across and 45 Down entries, with 38 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.