WSJ Crossword August 24, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 24, 2026, “Buckling Up,” is a Monday puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel with 78 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 PISFORPERIL at 11 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 AWED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ESSAY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is WHO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with W and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is PALES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is STUNS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
16 Across is HEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with H and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is PISFORPERIL, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with P and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
19 Across is YEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is LEANONME, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 2. It begins with L and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
21 Across is PALS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with P 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.
22 Across is COW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with C and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Across is ISLAM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with I and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is SGTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with S and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
28 Across is APSPANISH, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with A and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
32 Across is HERO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is ESE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Across is EIGHTY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
35 Across is UVA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is RAPSTAR, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
38 Across is EEP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with E and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is REBOOT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
41 Across is CAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is BRIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is TRAPMUSIC, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with T and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
45 Across is SEEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is CUPPA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is HIT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is MOHS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
50 Across is BIKETOUR, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with B and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
55 Across is AHA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is STRAPHINGES, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
59 Across is PHI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with P and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Across is PREGO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Across is NIGER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is SIR, a 3-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 3 letters.
63 Across is AESOP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with A and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
64 Across is TSKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
Down
1 Down is APP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is WAIL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with W and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is ELSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is DEFACTO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with D and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is ESPN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is STEM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is SUREIS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
8 Down is ANI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is YSL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with Y and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is WHYAMIHERE, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with W and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
11 Down is HEEL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is OWNS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Down is SONOS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with S 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.
18 Down is ROW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with R and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is PANG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with P and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Down is SPEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is LAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is SEVER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is GRABACHAIR, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with G and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
28 Down is ASP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Down is PESCI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is STEIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is HYPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with H and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
32 Down is HURT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Down is EATUP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with E and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is ROMP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Down is TAC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with T and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is OPUS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is BETONIT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with B and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is SABRES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is SITIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Down is HEH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with H and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Down is MAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M 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.
49 Down is OHHI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is IAGO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is KPOP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with K and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is UGGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with U and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is REEK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with R and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is SPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Down is TRE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is SRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with S 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.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 42 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.