WSJ Crossword August 9, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for August 9, 2026, “Outward Bound,” is a Sunday puzzle by Prasanna Keshava with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is STIFFUPPERLIP at 13 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 GINA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is HEFTY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Across is CRAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is EGOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ELLIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is HAVE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is TORO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is MOANA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is AWED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is STIFFUPPERLIP, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
23 Across is ETS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
24 Across is APES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with A 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.
25 Across is IRONY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is TAKEI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with T and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is ADA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is WOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with W and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is GRANDLARCENY, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with G and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters.
38 Across is TRIO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is ROOST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is OREO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is HITTINGCOACH, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with H and ends with H, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
46 Across is IOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is SOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is OOPSY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Across is STARE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is ESSO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is RAE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Across is TIEDUPINKNOTS, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with T and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
62 Across is EARN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is ITINA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is OTIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is ALAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
67 Across is RECAP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with R and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is GORE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is TAPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
70 Across is ESSIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
71 Across is ONES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with O 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.
Down
1 Down is GETSET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is IGOTTA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is NORISK, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with N and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is ASOF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is HEMUP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with H and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is ELOPE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is FLAPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with F 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.
8 Down is TINE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is YEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with Y and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is CHAIR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is RAWPOWER, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with R and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
12 Down is AVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
13 Down is MED, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
21 Down is FAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with F and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is LIAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is NONE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is YOYO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with Y and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is EGOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is ALSO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is DATA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Down is ARNO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is NOGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. 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.
36 Down is DOC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with D and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is COHO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is THIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is RIOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is ITSATRAP, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with I and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
44 Down is ISEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Down is COOK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with C and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Down is PROTON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with P and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is SATIRE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is YESSES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with Y 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.
53 Down is RINSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is EPICS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. 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.
55 Down is SINAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is SNAPE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Down is DIRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is UTES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is NOGO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is EAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares and 15 circled squares that carry the theme. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.