WSJ Crossword August 27, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 27, 2026, “In a Pet,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk 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 CANADADRY at 9 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 LIMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ORGY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is STATS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Across is APIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is HERO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is HEMUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with H and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is CANADADRY, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is ALIBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is EDITOR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
21 Across is ROAREDAT, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with R and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
23 Across is OLE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is CDC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with C and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is STOOL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is PAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is ONTV, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with O and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Across is LAPTOP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with L and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
36 Across is ADO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Across is MERE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is ABE, a 3-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 3 letters.
39 Across is PAIRSUP, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with P and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
42 Across is WOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Across is TORO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is PVT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is TOREUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with T and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Across is SOAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is YES, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is SALTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
51 Across is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
53 Across is PSI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with P and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Across is FRANKISH, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with F and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
59 Across is OUNCES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with O 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.
63 Across is LONER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is CAMEMBERT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with C and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
66 Across is INTRO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ALAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
68 Across is ODIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is PAEAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with P and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Across is DORY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
71 Across is WEEP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with W and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is LACE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is IPAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is MINI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is ONATOOT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with O and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is OHARE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is RED, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is GRRR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with G and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is YOYO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with Y and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is SHARD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Down is TELECOM, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is AMID, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is TUBA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is SPIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is DOLLOP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with D and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is ACTOUT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Down is SLATS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S 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.
26 Down is TABOO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with T and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is OPERA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is PARTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
29 Down is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A 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.
31 Down is NEWEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is TROUT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is VEEPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with V 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.
35 Down is PAPYRI, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with P and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
40 Down is IVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
41 Down is POSSUM, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with P and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is OPENERA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with O and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Down is RAINBOW, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with R and ends with W, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
52 Down is AKRON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is POESY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is FLIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with F and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is RONA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is SCAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is HALO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is CEDE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is ERIE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is STEP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Down is MAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with M and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 42 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.