WSJ Crossword August 31, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 31, 2026, “Here’s The Deal,” is a Monday puzzle by Zachary David Levy 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 THREEOFDIAMONDS 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 COPCAR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Across is ACRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Across is CAP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is ORIOLE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
15 Across is LOON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is OLE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is ACEOFSPADES, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is VEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with V and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
20 Across is TACK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
21 Across is ELM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with E and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Across is USEUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with U and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is SSE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Across is TWOOFHEARTS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with T and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
28 Across is PAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Across is OASIS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is ENTRY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
33 Across is ACH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is LOAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with L and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is THREEOFDIAMONDS, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
41 Across is SLIP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is LDS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with L 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.
43 Across is ARGON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is BAHAI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with B and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is GAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with G 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.
48 Across is FOUROFCLUBS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with F and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
51 Across is NAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with N and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Across is LINEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 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.
56 Across is IOTA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is ALA, 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.
58 Across is CARDCOUNTER, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with C and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
62 Across is MEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with M and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Across is HEAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with H and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
64 Across is ANEMIC, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with A and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
65 Across is ERS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Across is OREO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is DOZENS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
Down
1 Down is COATS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C 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.
2 Down is ORCAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. 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.
3 Down is PIECE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is COOK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with C and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is ALF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with A and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is RESEWS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is ALAMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is COD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with C and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is ROE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is ENSUES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is COVERSONG, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with C and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
12 Down is ALEUT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is PEEPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P 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 PLOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
23 Down is SAILORS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Down is TAYE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is FOCI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with F and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is HAHA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is PREPARE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
30 Down is ETS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. 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.
31 Down is NHL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with N and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Down is TRIBUNALS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with T and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
33 Down is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. 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.
35 Down is ADO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Down is MSN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with M and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is OLAF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with O and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is FDIC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with F and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is MAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. 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.
45 Down is HONCHO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is GUAC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with G and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is ABROAD, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is FLAME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is OILER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with O and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is LEDTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is NOTME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is ATEIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is NARCS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with N 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.
56 Down is INEZ, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is AER, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is RAE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is UNO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 36 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.