WSJ Crossword August 25, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 25, 2026, “Joking Kind,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Daniel Hrynick with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is JIMMYKIMMEL 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 TGI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with T and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
4 Across is OPS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Across is THREAT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Across is HAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with H and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is KIA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with K and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is WEALTH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with W and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is ELEGANT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
18 Across is SEAMILE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 9. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
19 Across is JIMMYKIMMEL, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with J and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
21 Across is TAB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with T and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Across is ELIAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is REIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is WINE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is TENT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Across is TIER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Across is PASTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is SEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
29 Across is JACKKLUGMAN, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with J and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
31 Across is LES, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is JULIEKAVNER, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with J and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
39 Across is ROM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is SNEER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is MOES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with M 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.
44 Across is MANO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is TUTU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with T and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is TALC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with T and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is EATEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with E and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Across is RSS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R 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.
49 Across is JUSTKIDDING, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with J and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
51 Across is OUTLETS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
53 Across is THEDOOR, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with T and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
54 Across is KARATE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with K and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is ION, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 9. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is ETE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Across is ELYSEE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
58 Across is EPS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 9. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
59 Across is DEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is THEJETS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
2 Down is GALILEE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with G and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is IMEMINE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is OKAYS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with O 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.
5 Down is PINK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with P and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is SATIRIC, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
7 Down is TWEEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is HEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is RAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is ELITISM, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is ATLANTA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is THEBEAN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
17 Down is GMAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is SMIRK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 9. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
20 Down is MEEK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with M and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is WAGE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is TASK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is PURR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with P and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is JEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with J and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is LIES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with L 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 Down is LIEU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with L and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is JSTROKE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with J and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
34 Down is UNUSUAL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with U and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
35 Down is LETSTRY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 7 letters.
36 Down is AMASS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is VOLT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with V and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is NECKTIE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 9. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Down is RATIOED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with R and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Down is ONENOTE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Down is MONGREL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with M and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is MADD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Down is TUTEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
47 Down is EDENS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with E 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.
49 Down is JETE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with J and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is IHOP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with I and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is LAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 38 Across and 36 Down entries, with 35 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.