Solstice mo.

Latest answer — August 14, 2026

40 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue decoded

DEC is the standard three-letter abbreviation for December, the month containing the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Clue type:
Abbreviation
A calendar page for December marked near the winter solstice.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 14, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1"Cor, blimey!"
  2. 5Oxygen co-creator
  3. 10Mascaron image
  4. 14Drive-__
  5. 15Tricky tennis serve
  6. 16Traffic-dependent figs.
  7. 17Azaria of "Brockmire"
  8. 18*Action figure at the bottom of a pool?
  9. 20WSW reversal
  10. 21Virtual citizenry
  11. 22Dad's sister
  12. 23*Naval officer's very quiet "ahoy there"?
  13. 28Outdoor dining spot
  14. 29"Oh, now I see"
  15. 30TV controller?
  16. 3119th Greek letter
  17. 33Cryptography org.
  18. 34Mineralogist who created a scale
  19. 35*Jokes about miscellaneous items?
  20. 382025 WNBA champions
  21. 40Solstice mo.
  22. 41Live and __ live
  23. 42"Starship Troopers" backdrop
  24. 43Zing
  25. 44Gives, but not forever
  26. 48*Essential for authors who work at the beach?
  27. 53Olympic swimmer Torres
  28. 54Cruising
  29. 55__ leaf: stew herb
  30. 56Clean energy option, or a hint to what the answers to the starred clues have?
  31. 59Snitch (on)
  32. 60"Copacabana" bartender
  33. 61Hugo or Edgar
  34. 62Wayfair rival
  35. 63Referendum side
  36. 64Like some buns
  37. 65Join (up)

Down

  1. 1Networking assistance
  2. 2Grammy winner Twain
  3. 3"Is This Thing On?" star Will
  4. 4Big laugh
  5. 5Activist/actor Davis
  6. 6Straight up
  7. 7Classic laundry soap
  8. 8"Jeepers!"
  9. 9Little laugh
  10. 10Beyond irritated
  11. 11Try to make right
  12. 12Pasadena research univ.
  13. 13Pre-naturalization test course, for short
  14. 19Meemaw alternative
  15. 21"McSorley's Bar" painter
  16. 24"__ Andronicus"
  17. 25Ceremonial accessory
  18. 26Rental after closing, maybe
  19. 27Hardware for Xbox
  20. 32Cow's milk source
  21. 33US Open locale
  22. 34Interstate stopover
  23. 35Fig. for ordering replacement parts
  24. 36Set pieces
  25. 37Peach __
  26. 38"So sweet!"
  27. 39Side mirror spot
  28. 43Cider source
  29. 45Like some cheesecake
  30. 46Region with many Nats fans, briefly
  31. 47Overview producer?
  32. 49Canteen stack
  33. 50Perceived to be
  34. 511-Down callers
  35. 52Uncool
  36. 56Auto care brand
  37. 57Actress Grier
  38. 58Come up short, maybe
  39. 59Minor quibble

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. "Cor, blimey!" — Answer: ISAY. Hint: An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or emphasis. 😮
  2. 5. Oxygen co-creator — Answer: OPRAH. Hint: This talk-show legend helped launch a TV network named after the life-giving gas. 📺
  3. 10. Mascaron image — Answer: FACE. Hint: This decorative architectural feature depicts a human countenance. 🏛️
  4. 14. Drive-__ — Answer: THRU. Hint: Complete this phrase for the lane where you order and collect food without parking. 🚗
  5. 15. Tricky tennis serve — Answer: SLICE. Hint: This serve curves sideways and skids low, making it tricky to return 🎾
  6. 16. Traffic-dependent figs. — Answer: ETAS. Hint: These figures predict when you’ll arrive, but traffic can keep changing them. 🚗
  7. 17. Azaria of "Brockmire" — Answer: HANK. Hint: Think of the actor’s first name, shared with his gruff baseball-announcer character. ⚾
  8. 18. *Action figure at the bottom of a pool? — Answer: SUNKENDOLL. Hint: Picture a poseable toy that has taken an unfortunate trip beneath the water. 🤿
  9. 20. WSW reversal — Answer: ENE. Hint: Read this compass direction in reverse to find its counterpart. 🧭
  10. 21. Virtual citizenry — Answer: SIMS. Hint: Think of the digital residents populating a life-simulation game. 🎮
  11. 22. Dad's sister — Answer: AUNT. Hint: Think of the family member who is your father’s sister 👨‍👧
  12. 23. *Naval officer's very quiet "ahoy there"? — Answer: LITTLEBOSUNPEEP. Hint: Blend a familiar nursery-rhyme character with a shipboard officer and a whisper-soft greeting. ⚓
  13. 28. Outdoor dining spot — Answer: PATIO. Hint: A backyard or café space where you can enjoy a meal in the open air 🍽️
  14. 29. "Oh, now I see" — Answer: AHA. Hint: A lightbulb moment might prompt this sudden realization. 💡
  15. 30. TV controller? — Answer: FCC. Hint: Think of the federal agency that keeps an eye on what reaches your television screen 📺
  16. 31. 19th Greek letter — Answer: TAU. Hint: Count through the Greek alphabet to find the letter after sigma and before upsilon. 🇬🇷
  17. 33. Cryptography org. — Answer: NSA. Hint: This U.S. agency is known for safeguarding national communications and intelligence. 🕵️
  18. 34. Mineralogist who created a scale — Answer: MOHS. Hint: Think of the scientist behind the familiar mineral hardness scale. 🪨
  19. 35. *Jokes about miscellaneous items? — Answer: SUNDRYHUMOR. Hint: Think of a playful phrase that combines assorted things with comedy. 😄
  20. 38. 2025 WNBA champions — Answer: ACES. Hint: Think of Las Vegas’s reigning WNBA champions—their nickname comes from a winning card hand. 🃏
  21. 40. Solstice mo. — Answer: DEC. Hint: The winter solstice arrives during this month in the Northern Hemisphere. ❄️
  22. 41. Live and __ live — Answer: LET. Hint: A tiny word completes this motto about mutual tolerance. 🕊️
  23. 42. "Starship Troopers" backdrop — Answer: WAR. Hint: This sci-fi story unfolds against a backdrop of armed conflict. 🚀
  24. 43. Zing — Answer: PEP. Hint: A little burst of energy or enthusiasm gives this word its spark ⚡
  25. 44. Gives, but not forever — Answer: LENDS. Hint: Offers something temporarily, expecting it back. 🤝
  26. 48. *Essential for authors who work at the beach? — Answer: WRITERSSUNBLOCK. Hint: Think of a beachside author’s defense against bright rays while working. ☀️
  27. 53. Olympic swimmer Torres — Answer: DARA. Hint: Think of the first name of the American Olympic swimmer who competed across five Games. 🏊
  28. 54. Cruising — Answer: ASEA. Hint: Picture yourself traveling across the ocean, not on land. 🌊
  29. 55. __ leaf: stew herb — Answer: BAY. Hint: This aromatic leaf is a classic stew seasoning, usually removed before serving. 🌿
  30. 56. Clean energy option, or a hint to what the answers to the starred clues have? — Answer: SOLARPOWER. Hint: Think of energy drawn from sunshine, or a shared feature among the starred entries. ☀️
  31. 59. Snitch (on) — Answer: NARC. Hint: To do this, you report someone’s wrongdoing to the authorities. 🤫
  32. 60. "Copacabana" bartender — Answer: TONY. Hint: Think of the bartender at the center of Barry Manilow’s tropical nightclub tale. 🍹
  33. 61. Hugo or Edgar — Answer: AWARD. Hint: Each is a prestigious literary prize named after a celebrated author 📚
  34. 62. Wayfair rival — Answer: IKEA. Hint: Think of the Swedish home-furnishing giant famous for flat-pack furniture and maze-like showrooms 🛋️
  35. 63. Referendum side — Answer: PROS. Hint: The side supporting a ballot measure takes this position 👍
  36. 64. Like some buns — Answer: MESSY. Hint: Think of a carefree hairstyle that is far from perfectly arranged. 💇
  37. 65. Join (up) — Answer: TEAM. Hint: Think of what you do when you band together with others for a common goal 🤝

Down

  1. 1. Networking assistance — Answer: ITHELP. Hint: A tech-savvy hand when your connections need a little troubleshooting. 🛠️
  2. 2. Grammy winner Twain — Answer: SHANIA. Hint: Think of the Canadian country-pop superstar behind “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” 🎤
  3. 3. "Is This Thing On?" star Will — Answer: ARNETT. Hint: This comedian played Gob on Arrested Development and voiced Batman in The LEGO Movie. 🎭
  4. 4. Big laugh — Answer: YUK. Hint: A short, informal burst of hearty amusement 😂
  5. 5. Activist/actor Davis — Answer: OSSIE. Hint: Think of the civil-rights activist and actor who appeared in Spike Lee’s *Do the Right Thing*. 🎬
  6. 6. Straight up — Answer: PLUMB. Hint: Think of a carpenter’s trusty way to check whether something is perfectly vertical. 📏
  7. 7. Classic laundry soap — Answer: RINSO. Hint: Think of a vintage detergent brand from old-fashioned wash day. 🧺
  8. 8. "Jeepers!" — Answer: ACK. Hint: A tiny exclamation of surprise or alarm 😲
  9. 9. Little laugh — Answer: HEE. Hint: A tiny chuckle might sound just like this. 😊
  10. 10. Beyond irritated — Answer: FEDUP. Hint: When annoyance has completely worn out its welcome, you’re feeling this way 😤
  11. 11. Try to make right — Answer: ATONEFOR. Hint: Seek forgiveness by making amends for a wrong. 🙏
  12. 12. Pasadena research univ. — Answer: CALTECH. Hint: This prestigious California institute is famous for science and engineering breakthroughs. 🔬
  13. 13. Pre-naturalization test course, for short — Answer: ESL. Hint: It’s the language-learning class many newcomers take before their citizenship exam. 📚
  14. 19. Meemaw alternative — Answer: NANA. Hint: A warm, familiar nickname for your grandmother. 👵
  15. 21. "McSorley's Bar" painter — Answer: SLOAN. Hint: Think of the Ashcan School artist known for capturing lively New York scenes. 🎨
  16. 24. "__ Andronicus" — Answer: TITUS. Hint: Think of the Roman general whose name completes the title of Shakespeare’s famously gruesome tragedy. 🎭
  17. 25. Ceremonial accessory — Answer: SASH. Hint: A decorative band worn across the body can add a formal touch to an outfit. 🎀
  18. 26. Rental after closing, maybe — Answer: UHAUL. Hint: You might turn to this moving option when the rental desk has already closed. 🚚
  19. 27. Hardware for Xbox — Answer: PCS. Hint: Think of computers that can also run games from Microsoft’s Xbox ecosystem. 🎮
  20. 32. Cow's milk source — Answer: UDDER. Hint: It’s the milk-producing part of a dairy cow 🐄
  21. 33. US Open locale — Answer: NYC. Hint: This tennis major takes place in the Big Apple. 🎾
  22. 34. Interstate stopover — Answer: MOTEL. Hint: A roadside place to sleep between long highway stretches 🛏️
  23. 35. Fig. for ordering replacement parts — Answer: SERIALNO. Hint: Look for the identifying code that helps a supplier match the exact replacement part. 🔧
  24. 36. Set pieces — Answer: REPS. Hint: In the gym, these are the counted repeats that make up a workout set. 💪
  25. 37. Peach __ — Answer: MELBA. Hint: This classic peach dessert is topped with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce, and honors an opera star. 🍑
  26. 38. "So sweet!" — Answer: AWW. Hint: A tender little reaction to something adorable. 🥰
  27. 39. Side mirror spot — Answer: CARDOOR. Hint: It’s the panel just below and beside a vehicle’s side mirror. 🚗
  28. 43. Cider source — Answer: PEAR. Hint: Think of a juicy orchard fruit that can be pressed into a sweet, gently tangy cider. 🍐
  29. 45. Like some cheesecake — Answer: NOBAKE. Hint: This cheesecake sets in the fridge instead of needing an oven. 🍰
  30. 46. Region with many Nats fans, briefly — Answer: DCAREA. Hint: Think of the nation’s capital and its surrounding suburbs, in abbreviated form. ⚾
  31. 47. Overview producer? — Answer: SKYCAM. Hint: Think of the camera that gives viewers a bird’s-eye view from above. 📷
  32. 49. Canteen stack — Answer: TRAYS. Hint: These flat cafeteria helpers are stacked before mealtime rushes 🍽️
  33. 50. Perceived to be — Answer: SAWAS. Hint: This phrase describes how something was regarded or interpreted. 👀
  34. 51. 1-Down callers — Answer: USERS. Hint: Think of people who make use of a service or system. 🧑‍💻
  35. 52. Uncool — Answer: NERDY. Hint: A little too bookish or socially awkward to be trendy 📚
  36. 56. Auto care brand — Answer: STP. Hint: Look for the familiar three-letter brand found on bottles of automotive oil treatments. 🚗
  37. 57. Actress Grier — Answer: PAM. Hint: This actress became a 1970s blaxploitation icon and later starred in Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown.” 🎬
  38. 58. Come up short, maybe — Answer: OWE. Hint: It might happen when your bill is bigger than your wallet. 💸
  39. 59. Minor quibble — Answer: NIT. Hint: It’s a tiny complaint about a small detail. 🧐

Recent WaPo Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

WaPo Crossword 13 August 2026WaPo Crossword 12 August 2026WaPo Crossword 11 August 2026WaPo Crossword 10 August 2026WaPo Crossword 9 August 2026WaPo Crossword 8 August 2026WaPo Crossword 7 August 2026

The answer to “Solstice mo.” in the The Washington Post crossword is DEC — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 14, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 40-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.

“Solstice mo.” answer

DEC (3 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 DEC.

When else has “Solstice mo.” 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.

August 14, 2026 (most recent) → DEC. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the WaPo Crossword on August 14, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full The Washington Post answer list for August 14, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live WaPo Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the WaPo Crossword

The Washington Post Crossword is a classic American daily 15×15 (larger on Sunday), free to play online and known for fair, conversational cluing. This page covers a Friday puzzle. Theme answers and mid-length fill trade places in importance; when a theme clue stalls you, a confirmed crossing entry usually breaks the corner open.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Solstice mo.”?

The answer is DEC, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 14, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Solstice mo.”?

3 letters: DEC.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 14, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 40-Across.

Can “Solstice mo.” 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 August 14, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.