WSJ Crossword August 4, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 4, 2026, “Hollywood Ending,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Gary Larson & Amy Ensz with 78 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 LIGHTSLEEPER at 12 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 DAP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is VITAL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with V and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Across is RANTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Across is ADO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is OMEGA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is AGORA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is FILMSPEED, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with F and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is MRCUB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with M and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
20 Across is TALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is UTNE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is PEACE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is LIGHTSLEEPER, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with L and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Across is SOLEMN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is IDO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Across is TRIED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Across is IOUS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with I and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
34 Across is NETS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with N 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.
38 Across is ACE, 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 BACKSAW, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with B and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
42 Across is LEI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Across is BAND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Across is BEDS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with B 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.
46 Across is ISLET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Across is USE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is ATEASE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is DIRECTFLIGHT, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
57 Across is ADELE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Across is OONA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is TWOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
63 Across is RAGIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is CASTDOUBT, 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. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
66 Across is THANT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ATTEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is SOY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
69 Across is SONGS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, 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.
70 Across is LHASA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
71 Across is SEX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with S and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is DAFT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ADIA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is POLL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is VOS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with V and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is IMPUGN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is TEETH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is AGENT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
8 Down is LADES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is RAMPED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is AGREEON, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is NOCAP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with N and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is TRUCE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is SABER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is MELEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is IMDB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with I and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Down is LISA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is STAB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is ORCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is LIEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is ICE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
32 Down is OKD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is USS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with U 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 ELLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is TEES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is SITE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is ABET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is WITH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with W and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Down is DUELING, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with D and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Down is SETTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is SCENTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
50 Down is AGATES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A 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.
51 Down is DARTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
52 Down is IDAHO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
53 Down is REGAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is FOCAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with F and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is LOATH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with L and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is INSTA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Down is WUSS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Down is OBOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is STYX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with X, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Down is DNA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with D and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 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.