Reward or punishment that may be ironic

Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026

43 Across

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An illustration suggesting an ironic consequence that fits someone's actions.

Clue explained

Poetic justice is an outcome that feels fittingly ironic: someone may receive a reward or punishment that seems especially suited to what they did. For instance, a boastful character undone by their own boast might meet poetic justice. The phrase captures the satisfying sense that events have delivered a just, story-like ending.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Tenant farmers of the early Middle Ages
  2. 6"Who's there?" response
  3. 11Contingencies
  4. 14Bird-related
  5. 15"Unbelievable!"
  6. 16Spanish cheer
  7. 17Liquid that can relieve muscle cramps
  8. 19Minuscule
  9. 20__ gin fizz
  10. 21Long-lasting hairdo
  11. 22Offering little comfort
  12. 24"__ is not a drill!"
  13. 26Bassinet occupant
  14. 27Filling a friend's car with balloons, e.g.
  15. 32Flats or heels
  16. 34Go on an ocean voyage
  17. 35Dubai's fed.
  18. 36Doily fabric
  19. 37Attention-grabbing feat
  20. 39Opinion survey
  21. 40Variety
  22. 41Cameron who voices Fiona in the "Shrek" franchise
  23. 42Diminishes
  24. 43Reward or punishment that may be ironic
  25. 47Chitchat
  26. 48Pig sound
  27. 49Perch for a pigeon
  28. 51Chicken sound
  29. 53Alan of "M*A*S*H"
  30. 57"Of course, mon ami!"
  31. 58Cozy garb in some family photos, or what can be found in 17-, 27-, and 43-Across?
  32. 61Victoria's Secret garment
  33. 62Tierney of "The Affair"
  34. 63Sire
  35. 64Pine-__: cleaning brand
  36. 65Liability's opposite
  37. 66South American barbecue

Down

  1. 1Ones easily duped
  2. 2Malicious
  3. 3Puerto __
  4. 4Greenery that doesn't need water
  5. 5Lorne Michaels' long-running NBC show, for short
  6. 6Just for laughs
  7. 7Sightseer's booking
  8. 8Move like a fish
  9. 9Big __: fast-food classic
  10. 10Give a very close look
  11. 11"Thanks so much!"
  12. 12Pest on a pet
  13. 13Hide-and-__
  14. 18Large-scale tale
  15. 23Pres. between JFK and RMN
  16. 25Gives birth to
  17. 26Worm on a hook, say
  18. 27Call unwittingly
  19. 28Japanese truckmaker
  20. 29Tuna container
  21. 30Leafy vegetable in a green smoothie
  22. 31Morays, e.g.
  23. 32Try and fail to walk on ice
  24. 33Saintly ring
  25. 37Unable to go to school, maybe
  26. 38__ Mahal
  27. 39Amazon deliveries
  28. 41Tough decision
  29. 42Come in first
  30. 44Playground game
  31. 45"Your point being?"
  32. 46Polynesian carving
  33. 49Arcing tennis shots
  34. 50Currency in 21 countries
  35. 51Air conditioning figs.
  36. 52Land parcel
  37. 54Links org.
  38. 55Provided music for a party
  39. 56On the topic of
  40. 59Batteries for some noisy toys
  41. 60Clippers' org.

The answer to “Reward or punishment that may be ironic” in the The Washington Post crossword is POETICJUSTICE — a 13-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 43-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.

“Reward or punishment that may be ironic” answer

POETICJUSTICE (13 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 POETICJUSTICE.

When else has “Reward or punishment that may be ironic” appeared?

The Washington Post 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.

October 12, 2026 (most recent) → POETICJUSTICE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Reward or punishment that may be ironic”?

The answer is POETICJUSTICE, a 13-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Reward or punishment that may be ironic”?

13 letters: POETICJUSTICE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 43-Across.

Can “Reward or punishment that may be ironic” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post 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 WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for October 12, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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