WSJ Crossword August 5, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 5, 2026, “Fine Art,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Shmuel Schmell 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 COLORINTHELINES 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 VESPA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with V and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is ACTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ABBA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ONEON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is PORT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
16 Across is BEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with B and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is COAST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is BLUE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is LAND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ALLIES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Across is OMELET, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is BASE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is PURPLE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Across is BEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Across is SWAMI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is SENORA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Across is ACL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
37 Across is ICANT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is AXIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is GREATESTRESPECT, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
44 Across is GOAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is SHONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is RAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is INVERT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is EPEES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with E 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.
52 Across is EYE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
53 Across is YELLOW, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is TIME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is SCENEI, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with S and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
61 Across is SHANIA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
63 Across is PLOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Across is PINK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with P and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is UNDER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is HOUR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is ICEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
70 Across is TCELL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with T and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
71 Across is INTL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with I and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
72 Across is NASA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
73 Across is SEXES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is VOCAB, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with V and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is ENOLA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is SEALS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is POSIES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is APB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is COLORINTHELINES, a 15-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with S, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
8 Down is TRUMP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
9 Down is STEELS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S 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.
10 Down is ABLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is BEATBOXER, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
12 Down is BAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with B and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is AND, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is SPACE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
26 Down is UMASS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is ERICA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is EASTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with E 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.
31 Down is WIT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is NAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with N and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is AGGIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is CRONY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
36 Down is LEAVESOUT, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with L and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters.
38 Down is TROPO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Down is ATE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Down is ENEWS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is SEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Down is RYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with R and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Down is TENPIN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is STANCE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
54 Down is LEICA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with L and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is INDEX, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with I and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is MIELE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is EARLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with E 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.
60 Down is CTRL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with C and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is HUTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with H 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.
63 Down is PHI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Down is LON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with L and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Down is KEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with K and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. 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.