WSJ Crossword August 7, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 7, 2026, “Military Dress,” is a Friday puzzle by Alan DerKazarian with 138 clues on a 21×21 grid. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution. The longest entry is WHENTHEWORLDSHOOK at 17 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 LYING, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is LARK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ARTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is BUB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 19. It begins with B and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is SENILE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
19 Across is ALOHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is DEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 14. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is USE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 19. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Across is DOCKET, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is TATAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 8. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Across is ESCARGOT, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 14. It begins with E and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
27 Across is WHENTHEWORLDSHOOK, a 17-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 2. It begins with W and ends with K, with 5 vowels among its 17 letters.
30 Across is NAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Across is KEYTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with K and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is FOMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 17. It begins with F and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
35 Across is MATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Across is MBA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with M and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is INEEDA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with I and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
43 Across is IRA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 19. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Across is ITSNOWORNEVER, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with I and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
49 Across is SABRES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 16. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Across is SEAANEMONE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 10 letters.
53 Across is EVILLOOK, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with E and ends with K, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
55 Across is HARPON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
56 Across is ANSWEREDTO, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 9. It begins with A and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
60 Across is AMI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Across is DSC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with D and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Across is OVERREACT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with O and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
66 Across is SMU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with S and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
69 Across is MOONFACED, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with M and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
72 Across is ISH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 17. It begins with I and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
73 Across is TITLESHOT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
75 Across is DIG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
77 Across is EDS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 19. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
80 Across is STEAMORGAN, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with S and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
83 Across is LESBOS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 16. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
86 Across is RIODEORO, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with R and ends with O, with 5 vowels among its 8 letters.
89 Across is CASHISKING, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with C and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
92 Across is IMTORN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
93 Across is MICHELOBLIGHT, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 9. It begins with M and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
96 Across is PAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 16, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
97 Across is EROICA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 16, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
100 Across is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 16, column 13. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
101 Across is TAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 16, column 18. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
102 Across is MOAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 17, column 2. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
105 Across is AMMAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 17, column 7. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
106 Across is VOLT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 17, column 14. It begins with V 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.
109 Across is CAPTAINUNDERPANTS, a 17-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 18, column 4. It begins with C and ends with S, with 6 vowels among its 17 letters.
116 Across is DEALWITH, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 19, column 1. It begins with D and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
119 Across is SCORN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 19, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
120 Across is GFORCE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 19, column 16. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
122 Across is ODD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 20, column 1. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
123 Across is NCAA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 20, column 5. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
124 Across is OKBYE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 20, column 10. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
125 Across is AFLOAT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 20, column 16. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
126 Across is CUZ, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 21, column 1. It begins with C and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
127 Across is YANN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 21, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
128 Across is SUSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 21, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
129 Across is YADDA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 21, column 17. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is LSD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with D, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
2 Down is YEOW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with Y and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is INCH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with I and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is NIKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is GLENN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with G and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Down is LATERBRO, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
7 Down is ALAW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ROTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is KHARKIV, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with K and ends with V, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is ADESTE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is RESHOD, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
12 Down is TACO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 16. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ERAOF, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 17. It begins with E and ends with F, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Down is BUG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 19. It begins with B and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
15 Down is USO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 20. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
16 Down is BET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 21. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
18 Down is ETTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Down is ARLENE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Down is RKO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 18. It begins with R and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Down is HIMOM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with H and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is DYER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with D and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Down is MIRO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 19. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Down is OREO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 20. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is MISHA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is ATEAM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is TSARIST, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
38 Down is SNAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is ANNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is ASIDE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 16. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Down is ASK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 21. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Down is ONO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is WEND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with W and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Down is EEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Down is ALTAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 17. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is BLOCS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 18. It begins with B 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.
53 Down is ERRED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is VERDI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with V and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is SOFTG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
58 Down is WVA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with W and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is EEC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is SMEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Down is COSMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Down is THEBIGA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 19. It begins with T and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
67 Down is MISDO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Down is UTTER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Down is OHO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
71 Down is NOR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with N and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
74 Down is LEONE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
76 Down is GLIB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 16. It begins with G and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
78 Down is DONHO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 20. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
79 Down is SSGTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 21. It begins with S and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
81 Down is ACH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
82 Down is NAES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with N 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.
84 Down is ESL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 17. It begins with E and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
85 Down is SKIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 18. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
86 Down is RIP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
87 Down is IMAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 14, column 2. It begins with I and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
88 Down is OTTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 14, column 3. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
90 Down is SLOVENES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 14, column 14. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
91 Down is HONOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 14, column 15. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
93 Down is MIMI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 15, column 9. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
94 Down is ICANSO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
95 Down is CANUCKS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
98 Down is RATTAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 16, column 7. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
99 Down is OMAHAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 16, column 8. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
103 Down is ACL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 17, column 4. 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.
104 Down is TAWNY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 17, column 5. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
107 Down is LPGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 17, column 16. It begins with L and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
108 Down is TAFFY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 17, column 17. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
110 Down is PICA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 18, column 6. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
111 Down is NOBU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 18, column 12. It begins with N and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
112 Down is DRYS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 18, column 13. It begins with D and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
113 Down is NOLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 18, column 18. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
114 Down is TROD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 18, column 19. It begins with T and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
115 Down is SCAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 18, column 20. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
116 Down is DOC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 19, column 1. It begins with D and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
117 Down is EDU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 19, column 2. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
118 Down is ADZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 19, column 3. It begins with A and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
121 Down is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 19, column 21. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 59 Across and 79 Down entries, with 92 black squares and 34 circled squares that carry the theme. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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.