WSJ Crossword August 30, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 30, 2026, “Let’s Celebrate,” is a Sunday puzzle by Ben Wildman-Tobriner & Stephanie Wildman with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is YOUGOTTHATRIGHT 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 BLEEP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is HELL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ALL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is CARDI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with C and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is JOLIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with J and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is IMA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
16 Across is CHRISTENING, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
18 Across is OFT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
19 Across is BAAED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with B and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
20 Across is DALAI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with D and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is OVAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is GRADUATION, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with G and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
28 Across is BERET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is ANYA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Across is ENG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is WASABI, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with W and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
36 Across is RATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Across is YOUGOTTHATRIGHT, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
43 Across is SMEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is BAITED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with B and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Across is IRA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is TBAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Across is SALEM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Across is BATMITZVAH, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
56 Across is VEEP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with V and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is ALOES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
58 Across is ABODE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is SAP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Across is QUINCEANERA, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with Q and ends with A, with 6 vowels among its 11 letters.
67 Across is EMS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
68 Across is URGES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
69 Across is NUKED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with N and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Across is SOY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
71 Across is ENOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
72 Across is KEEPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with K and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is BCC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
2 Down is LAH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
3 Down is ERR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with E and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is EDIBLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is PISA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is HONDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ELI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is LIN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with L and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is LEGDAY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is AIOLI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is LMFAO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is LATIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Down is JEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with J and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Down is TAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is OBEYS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. 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.
23 Down is VENOM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with V and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is ARGUE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is DABAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is UNITE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is TWO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is ATBAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is STARZ, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
35 Down is AHI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is AGILE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is THREE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Down is STAMP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Down is GETME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Down is RDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with R and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is BISQUE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is AVENUE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is BASES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B 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.
51 Down is ALAMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is TOPSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
53 Down is VANES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. 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.
54 Down is ABCS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A 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.
55 Down is HOE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is DANK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with D and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Down is URN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with U and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is IGO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Down is EKE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
65 Down is REP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Down is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. 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.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 35 Across and 43 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.