WSJ Crossword August 26, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 26, 2026, “Whew!,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Alan Olschwang with 78 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 RACEDAROUND 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 PSYCHS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Across is PILE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
11 Across is HEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with H and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is UNWRAP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with U and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
15 Across is ROAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is YMA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is RACEDAROUND, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with R and ends with D, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
19 Across is MID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is EGAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is TAV, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with T and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Across is GIANTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with G and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is LEVERETS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with L and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
26 Across is AMATI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is IRV, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with I and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is SWAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Across is PENANG, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with P and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
37 Across is BELLARCH, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with B and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
40 Across is AMIBEAT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Across is REUNITE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with R and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Across is ROMANGOD, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with R and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
45 Across is TITTER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Across is TSAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is GIN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with G and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is GEESE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with G and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Across is EDWARDII, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with E and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
54 Across is PORTIA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
57 Across is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Across is TYPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Across is EDU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Across is KNOCKONWOOD, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with K and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
66 Across is TOM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
67 Across is EDIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is NEEDED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with N and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
69 Across is ARP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
70 Across is SALS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
71 Across is STEAMY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
Down
1 Down is PURE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is SNAG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is YWCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is CRED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with C and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Down is HAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with H and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is SPATE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is PROVERB, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
8 Down is IOU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
9 Down is LANGE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is ENDIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is HYMN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with H and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
12 Down is EMIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is WADS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with W 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.
18 Down is RAVI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with R and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Down is ASSANTE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
24 Down is LINEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is RVER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is APART, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is MEMOS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with M 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.
28 Down is ANIMA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is TABARET, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with T and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
32 Down is WRITE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
33 Down is ACTES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is THERE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is GAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with G and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is LET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is LUIGI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with L and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Down is TOGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Down is DIRECTS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Down is NDAK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with N and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Down is DIKES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with D 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.
52 Down is WANDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with W and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is IRONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. 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.
54 Down is PETA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is RUMP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is TWEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is YODA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is POEM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with P and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Down is EDDY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Down is OIL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
65 Down is NET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 36 Across and 42 Down entries, with 37 black squares and 26 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.