Instrument in much ’80s pop

Latest answer — July 21, 2026

25 Across

This electronic device was a key player in creating those catchy retro sounds! 🎹

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

WSJ Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, July 21, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Call from downfield
  2. 7Braying beast
  3. 10Milliner’s product
  4. 13Government office
  5. 14Dove or Dial
  6. 16World Cup cry
  7. 17Odin’s home
  8. 18Contented sound
  9. 19Focus on a lot, say
  10. 20King, in Córdoba
  11. 21Botanical ring
  12. 23“High Noon” soundtrack composer Dimitri
  13. 25Instrument in much ’80s pop
  14. 27Issa of “Insecure”
  15. 28Starters, informally
  16. 32Platte Valley native
  17. 33“Right back ___!”
  18. 35Bottom
  19. 36Swiss watch part
  20. 372006 Winter Games host
  21. 39Summery
  22. 41Closing in on
  23. 43Video game company named for a go term
  24. 44Danish actor Mikkelsen
  25. 46Within: Prefix
  26. 47Ices
  27. 48“Have ___ news for you!”
  28. 49Enjoys Aspen
  29. 50Tram or trolley system: Abbr.
  30. 51Armored robot, in manga and anime
  31. 5324 hours earlier
  32. 56Barbie’s beau
  33. 57Baseball’s Cobb and France
  34. 60Dict. entry
  35. 61Obligation
  36. 63“Argo” setting
  37. 65Entirely
  38. 66Robe closer
  39. 672014 film about boxer Muhammad
  40. 68Hamm of soccer
  41. 69Quite little
  42. 70Arise, and a description of each set of circled letters

Down

  1. 1Flanged girder
  2. 2Euterpe or Terpsichore
  3. 3Satyr’s celebration
  4. 4Pod sphere
  5. 5Viscounts’ superiors
  6. 6Exercise practice not for the bashful
  7. 7Nile reptile
  8. 8Allman Brothers Band specialty
  9. 9Indian garment
  10. 10Place to see Canadiens or Canucks
  11. 11Jai ___
  12. 12Flier by the shore
  13. 15Fairly divided
  14. 22Microsoft pointing device
  15. 24Ripens
  16. 26Start of many ode titles
  17. 28Far from shore
  18. 29Basil-based sauce
  19. 30Standard drumming pattern of four taps with two grace notes
  20. 31Wok dish
  21. 34“___ a stinker?” (Bugs Bunny line)
  22. 38Oxfam International and Save the Children, e.g., for short
  23. 40Successor to Windows XP
  24. 42Pleasing to look at
  25. 45Ripen
  26. 52Lend ___ (listen)
  27. 53First person
  28. 54Spot for a hero
  29. 55Make like a beaver
  30. 57Snare
  31. 58China-North Korea border river
  32. 59Shears sound
  33. 62___/her
  34. 64Wellness grp.

The answer to “Instrument in much ’80s pop” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is SYNTH — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on July 21, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 25-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.

“Instrument in much ’80s pop” answer

SYNTH (5 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 SYNTH.

Why the answer is SYNTH

This electronic device was a key player in creating those catchy retro sounds! 🎹

When else has “Instrument in much ’80s pop” appeared?

Wall Street Journal 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.

July 21, 2026 (most recent) → SYNTH. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Instrument in much ’80s pop”?

The answer is SYNTH, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on July 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Instrument in much ’80s pop”?

5 letters: SYNTH.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Wall Street Journal crossword on July 21, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 25-Across.

Can “Instrument in much ’80s pop” have a different answer?

Yes — Wall Street Journal 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 WSJ answers?

The full grid for July 21, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Wall Street Journal Crossword is published by The Wall Street Journal; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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