Whys and wherefores

Latest answer — August 18, 2026

24 Across

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Clue explained

REASONS are the whys and wherefores of something—that is, the explanations or grounds behind it. The plural matches the plural wording of the clue.

Clue type:
Definition
A visual representation of explanations and causes

LA Times Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Ed of "Lou Grant"
  2. 6Flower holder
  3. 10Baseball officials
  4. 14Stir up
  5. 15Bar mitzvah dance
  6. 16Bean fermented to make miso
  7. 17*Be a little nosy
  8. 19__ a living
  9. 20Yale student
  10. 21Song for two
  11. 22Apple Music predecessor
  12. 24Whys and wherefores
  13. 26Invitation letters
  14. 27Toward the stern
  15. 28Store
  16. 29Acai bowl grain
  17. 32*Music, dance, drama, and the like
  18. 36Penne __ vodka
  19. 37\+ or - atomic particle
  20. 38Self-referential
  21. 39*Squeeze-box instrument with a keyboard
  22. 44"__-Hur"
  23. 45Move like a spooked horse, maybe
  24. 46McKellen of "X-Men"
  25. 47Alien-hunting subj.
  26. 48Royalties, e.g.
  27. 52Deli order
  28. 55Ultrasoft mineral
  29. 56More, on a music score
  30. 57"Growing Pains" actor Thicke
  31. 58*Public relations manager
  32. 61Suppressed, with "up"
  33. 62Toward sunrise
  34. 63Ore finder
  35. 64On a trawler, say
  36. 65Gains after taxes
  37. 66Bamboo-loving bear, or, when parsed in three parts, a feature of the answers to the starred clues

Down

  1. 1According to
  2. 2Took without asking
  3. 3Big name in brick phones
  4. 4__ out a living
  5. 5List, as names during roll call
  6. 6Footwear
  7. 7Sell aggressively
  8. 8Directional suffix
  9. 9Wisconsin's capital
  10. 10Drain completely
  11. 11Kvetch
  12. 12Funeral pile
  13. 13Comic __: informal typeface
  14. 18Reach a cost of
  15. 23Rating for many shows aired at 8 p.m.
  16. 25Plastic wrap brand
  17. 26Big horned animal
  18. 28Recommended garment when using glitter glue
  19. 29Double Stuf cookie
  20. 30Env. directive
  21. 31Bag-screening org.
  22. 32Part of a glissade, in ballet
  23. 33Dynamism
  24. 34Christina who played Wednesday Addams and appeared on "Wednesday"
  25. 35__ acid
  26. 36PD alert
  27. 40Listen to
  28. 41Signature replicator
  29. 42Iranian currency
  30. 43Summer childcare option
  31. 47Christmas cookie receiver
  32. 48Histories
  33. 49Philly Ivy League sch.
  34. 50Like a fork
  35. 51"Kama __"
  36. 52West Coast wine region
  37. 53Fútbol cheers
  38. 54Locks on a mustang
  39. 55Exam
  40. 59"Insecure" star Issa
  41. 60Supermodel Carangi

The answer to “Whys and wherefores” in the LA Times crossword is REASONS — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 18, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 24-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Whys and wherefores” answer

REASONS (7 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is REASONS.

What does REASONS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of REASONS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event
  • the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgements logically

When else has “Whys and wherefores” appeared?

LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 18, 2026 (most recent) → REASONS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Whys and wherefores”?

The answer is REASONS, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Whys and wherefores”?

7 letters: REASONS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 18, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 24-Across.

Can “Whys and wherefores” have a different answer?

Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?

The full grid for August 18, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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