WSJ Crossword August 6, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 6, 2026, “Of Vital Importance,” is a Thursday puzzle by Matt Gaffney with 74 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 DIEUETMONDROIT at 14 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 AIM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Across is TEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Across is STPAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
13 Across is SLUG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Across is AMMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is HORSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is ALDO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is LIFT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
19 Across is IROCS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with I 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.
20 Across is OPENMICNIGHT, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with O and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
23 Across is ITSDONE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Across is EEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Across is DIEUETMONDROIT, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 7 vowels among its 14 letters.
32 Across is LEAST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is PEAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
34 Across is DUG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Across is ERTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is DETER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is SERA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is DRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is PUTT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is GIANT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is ADHOCCOMMITTEE, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 14 letters.
47 Across is OMA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Across is AIRBEDS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
49 Across is DONMATTINGLY, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters.
54 Across is AVOID, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is UTAH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with U and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is MAIL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with M and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is WALLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Across is RANT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Across is ECCO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is SLAYS, 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.
64 Across is FLAY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with F and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Across is KEY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with K and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is ASA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
2 Down is ILL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
3 Down is MUD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is TALENT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is EMINEM, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is AMFM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is ROTI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with R and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is SHINERS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
9 Down is TORINO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is PROG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with P and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
11 Down is ASCH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
12 Down is TEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Down is GOODUSE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 4. It begins with G and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
21 Down is POET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is CEDAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is IDLED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is TIERRA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with T and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Down is SEATED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Down is OPTTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is NEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Down is IDEATE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Down is TURNED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
35 Down is GATES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with G 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.
37 Down is DUCAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is ETC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is SITBYME, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Down is POMADES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
42 Down is GIRL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with G and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Down is HOMILY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is MANANA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is MIGHTY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
49 Down is DAWS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with D 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.
50 Down is OVAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is NOLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
52 Down is TURF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with T and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is ITAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
57 Down is ACK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is ICE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is LOY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 35 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 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.