“Teardrop of India”

Latest answer — August 28, 2026

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Clue explained

Sri Lanka is often called the “Teardrop of India” because of its shape and position southeast of the Indian subcontinent. Crossword fill omits the space.

Clue type:
Nickname or title
Map of Sri Lanka south of India in the Indian Ocean

WSJ Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 28, 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“Slaves of New York” author Janowitz
  2. 5Agitated state
  3. 9Iconic 1980s burger
  4. 14Dramatic singer
  5. 18Caravan stops
  6. 19Burner setting
  7. 20Loud, as a crowd
  8. 21Big times
  9. 22Fan club devoted to president George W.?
  10. 24Fan club devoted to disco legend Donna?
  11. 26Shapiro of NPR
  12. 27Crocheter’s creation
  13. 28Ooze
  14. 29Some singers
  15. 30Should really not
  16. 32Hardy works
  17. 34Jimmies
  18. 35Italian wine region
  19. 36Headley of “Coming to America”
  20. 38Hammer part
  21. 39String quartet instrument
  22. 42Verizon acquisition of 2006
  23. 44Without wheels, in a way
  24. 47Fan club devoted to “Succession” actor Jeremy?
  25. 51“Works for me”
  26. 53Brave opponent
  27. 55Acapulco gold
  28. 56Clothesline alternative
  29. 57Met expectations?
  30. 58Spot
  31. 59Scottish misses
  32. 61Gold mining troughs
  33. 63Mediterranean island nation
  34. 64You can RSVP to them by clicking
  35. 65Loser to Fischer in 1972
  36. 66President before Jimmy
  37. 67Ladies of Spain
  38. 68Like faces on cold days, sometimes
  39. 69New staffer
  40. 70Trebek of “Jeopardy!”
  41. 71Practice that strives to harmonize yin and yang
  42. 72Pentathletes use them
  43. 74Connections
  44. 75Some NFL sackers
  45. 76One in it for the long haul
  46. 77Fan club devoted to romance writer Danielle?
  47. 79On both banks of
  48. 81Rank for PBS’s Morse or Tennison
  49. 83Tennis’s Murray and Roddick
  50. 84Goals
  51. 85Fertile soil
  52. 87Bakery stock
  53. 91Convenience stores
  54. 93Monopoly octet
  55. 96Bunch of scoundrels
  56. 98Swaggering, maybe
  57. 99Libertine
  58. 100Bakery buy
  59. 103Driller’s org.
  60. 104Fan club devoted to “Casino Royale” actress Eva?
  61. 106Fan club devoted to “Only Murders in the Building” actor Martin?
  62. 108Provoke
  63. 109Blazing
  64. 110Formally surrender
  65. 111Buddies
  66. 112Bull by the sea
  67. 113Joined the 10K
  68. 114Has a mortgage
  69. 115Above

Down

  1. 1Bull in the sky
  2. 2Back up
  3. 3Unimpressed response
  4. 4Only character in all seven Narnia books
  5. 5Catch, as flies
  6. 6Approaching
  7. 7Crested lizard
  8. 8Accepted standard
  9. 9Tricky billiards shot
  10. 10Barbaric
  11. 11Some stadium features
  12. 12Bed table item
  13. 13Amount past due
  14. 14Taper off
  15. 15About to explode
  16. 16“Come on!” in La Paz
  17. 17Death on the Nile causes, perhaps
  18. 18President born on an island
  19. 23Small salamander
  20. 25Once in a blue moon
  21. 31Pioneering DVR
  22. 33Fan club devoted to Sex Pistols bassist Sid?
  23. 34They may be collared
  24. 36Kills, as a dragon
  25. 37Fabled also-ran
  26. 38John and Denny, in a 1960s rock foursome
  27. 40Nonstudio films
  28. 41Shrek and Fiona, e.g.
  29. 43Mischievous
  30. 44Singer Mariah
  31. 45“Teardrop of India”
  32. 46Make oneself at home
  33. 47City in California’s Monterey County
  34. 48John of “Face/Off”
  35. 49Flush
  36. 50“Live long and prosper” speaker
  37. 52Eager agreement
  38. 54Maze stopper
  39. 58Bollywood garment
  40. 60Label for Booker T. & the M.G.’s and the Staple Singers
  41. 62Shaped in a shop, in a way
  42. 63Far from sufficient
  43. 65It’s a piece of cake
  44. 66Avarice
  45. 68Modem measures
  46. 69Some first-time voters
  47. 71Cuts back
  48. 73Sch. support groups
  49. 76Neptune’s largest moon
  50. 78Teacher’s deg.
  51. 80Chapel Hill athlete
  52. 82“The Bald Soprano” playwright
  53. 86Forswear
  54. 88“My pleasure”
  55. 89Hail Mary instruction
  56. 90Milky Way ingredients
  57. 91Organizing expert Kondo
  58. 92Express through eight states
  59. 93Bagel-shaped
  60. 94Startlingly odd
  61. 95Excited, with “up”
  62. 96Fragment
  63. 97Bakery enticement
  64. 98MLB team VIPs
  65. 99Tennis’s Nadal, familiarly
  66. 101Ore source
  67. 102“Iliad” warrior
  68. 105Round number, of a sort
  69. 107Traitorous singer

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. “Slaves of New York” author Janowitz — Answer: TAMA. Hint: Recall the author’s first name, which is also a short given name. 📚
  2. 5. Agitated state — Answer: SNIT. Hint: A person in this state is fussy, irritated, and upset. 😠
  3. 9. Iconic 1980s burger — Answer: MCDLT. Hint: This short-lived fast-food burger was designed to keep its hot and cool toppings separate 🍔
  4. 14. Dramatic singer — Answer: DIVA. Hint: This star performer may demand the spotlight and a little extra drama 🎤
  5. 18. Caravan stops — Answer: OASES. Hint: Travelers crossing a desert would welcome these fertile water sources 🏜️
  6. 19. Burner setting — Answer: HIGH. Hint: Turn the stove knob here when you need more heat 🔥
  7. 20. Loud, as a crowd — Answer: AROAR. Hint: A stadium can be this when excitement reaches its peak 📣
  8. 21. Big times — Answer: ERAS. Hint: Think of major historical periods rather than clock readings ⏳
  9. 22. Fan club devoted to president George W.? — Answer: BUSHLEAGUE. Hint: This playful club name mixes presidential fandom with a term for minor-league status 🧢
  10. 24. Fan club devoted to disco legend Donna? — Answer: SUMMERCAMP. Hint: This playful club name evokes a sunny season and an organized youth getaway ☀️
  11. 26. Shapiro of NPR — Answer: ARI. Hint: This NPR journalist is known for hosting a news interview program 🎙️
  12. 27. Crocheter’s creation — Answer: AFGHAN. Hint: A crocheter might make this cozy patterned blanket 🧶
  13. 28. Ooze — Answer: SEEP. Hint: Think about how liquid escapes slowly through a surface! 💧
  14. 29. Some singers — Answer: ALTOS. Hint: These higher voices often sit above tenors in a vocal ensemble 🎶
  15. 30. Should really not — Answer: MUSTNT. Hint: This contraction expresses a strong prohibition or necessity to refrain 🚫
  16. 32. Hardy works — Answer: NOVELS. Hint: These long fictional works include many by Thomas Hardy 📚
  17. 34. Jimmies — Answer: PRIES. Hint: These verbs mean pokes or meddles into something 👀
  18. 35. Italian wine region — Answer: ASTI. Hint: This Piedmont area is famous for a sweet sparkling wine 🍾
  19. 36. Headley of “Coming to America” — Answer: SHARI. Hint: This actor played Lisa McDowell in a beloved royal comedy 🎬
  20. 38. Hammer part — Answer: PEEN. Hint: This striking surface of a hammer is opposite its flat face 🔨
  21. 39. String quartet instrument — Answer: VIOLA. Hint: This bowed instrument is larger than a violin and smaller than a cello 🎻
  22. 42. Verizon acquisition of 2006 — Answer: MCI. Hint: This telecommunications company became part of Verizon in the mid-2000s 📞
  23. 44. Without wheels, in a way — Answer: CARLESS. Hint: A vehicle in the shop might temporarily be in this state 🚗
  24. 47. Fan club devoted to “Succession” actor Jeremy? — Answer: STRONGARM. Hint: A playful nickname for fans of the actor who played Kendall Roy 🎬
  25. 51. “Works for me” — Answer: IMHAPPY. Hint: A cheerful way to say the arrangement suits you 🙂
  26. 53. Brave opponent — Answer: RED. Hint: The Cincinnati baseball team may face Atlanta on the diamond ⚾
  27. 55. Acapulco gold — Answer: ORO. Hint: Use the Spanish word for the precious yellow metal. ✨
  28. 56. Clothesline alternative — Answer: DRYER. Hint: An appliance that saves you from hanging laundry indoors 👕
  29. 57. Met expectations? — Answer: OPERAS. Hint: Musical productions associated with New York’s Metropolitan Opera 🎭
  30. 58. Spot — Answer: SITE. Hint: A location or particular place 📍
  31. 59. Scottish misses — Answer: LASSIES. Hint: Young women from north of the English border 🏴
  32. 61. Gold mining troughs — Answer: SLUICES. Hint: Channels that wash sediment while prospecting for precious metal ⛏️
  33. 63. Mediterranean island nation — Answer: MALTA. Hint: A small country south of Italy in the Mediterranean 🌊
  34. 64. You can RSVP to them by clicking — Answer: EVITES. Hint: Online invitations that let guests respond digitally 💌
  35. 65. Loser to Fischer in 1972 — Answer: SPASSKY. Hint: The Soviet chess champion defeated by Bobby in their famous match ♟️
  36. 66. President before Jimmy — Answer: GERALD. Hint: The first name of the president who preceded Carter in the White House 🇺🇸
  37. 67. Ladies of Spain — Answer: DONAS. Hint: A Spanish term of respect for women 💃
  38. 68. Like faces on cold days, sometimes — Answer: BLOTCHY. Hint: Patchy-looking, as skin can become in chilly weather 🥶
  39. 69. New staffer — Answer: TRAINEE. Hint: A recent hire still learning the ropes 🧑‍💼
  40. 70. Trebek of “Jeopardy!” — Answer: ALEX. Hint: The longtime host’s first name 🎤
  41. 71. Practice that strives to harmonize yin and yang — Answer: TAICHI. Hint: A gentle Chinese discipline featuring flowing movements ☯️
  42. 72. Pentathletes use them — Answer: EPEES. Hint: Fencing swords used in one event of the modern pentathlon 🤺
  43. 74. Connections — Answer: KIN. Hint: Family relationships or relatives 👪
  44. 75. Some NFL sackers — Answer: DTS. Hint: Defensive linemen who can bring down the quarterback 🏈
  45. 76. One in it for the long haul — Answer: TRUCKER. Hint: This road warrior spends long stretches hauling cargo across highways. 🚚
  46. 77. Fan club devoted to romance writer Danielle? — Answer: STEELBAND. Hint: Imagine a fan club that performs Caribbean music together. 🎶
  47. 79. On both banks of — Answer: ASTRIDE. Hint: Picture something positioned across a river, touching each shore. 🌉
  48. 81. Rank for PBS’s Morse or Tennison — Answer: DCI. Hint: This is a senior title in the British police hierarchy. 👮
  49. 83. Tennis’s Murray and Roddick — Answer: ANDYS. Hint: These two champions share a first name. 🎾
  50. 84. Goals — Answer: AIMS. Hint: They are what you hope to accomplish. 🎯
  51. 85. Fertile soil — Answer: LOESS. Hint: Wind-deposited soil can be remarkably productive for crops. 🌾
  52. 87. Bakery stock — Answer: EGGS. Hint: A baker may keep these in the kitchen for mixing. 🥚
  53. 91. Convenience stores — Answer: MARTS. Hint: These neighborhood shops offer quick snacks and essentials. 🛒
  54. 93. Monopoly octet — Answer: TOKENS. Hint: Classic board-game pieces come in this group of eight. 🎲
  55. 96. Bunch of scoundrels — Answer: BADLOT. Hint: A particularly disreputable crowd earns this label. 😈
  56. 98. Swaggering, maybe — Answer: MACHO. Hint: A boastful display of toughness can seem this way. 💪
  57. 99. Libertine — Answer: ROUE. Hint: Think of someone who treats moral rules as optional while chasing pleasure. 😏
  58. 100. Bakery buy — Answer: ECLAIR. Hint: Choose a flaky pastry filled with cream and topped with icing. 🥐
  59. 103. Driller’s org. — Answer: ADA. Hint: Dentists may belong to this professional association. 🦷
  60. 104. Fan club devoted to “Casino Royale” actress Eva? — Answer: GREENPARTY. Hint: This fan club doubles as a political organization. 🎬
  61. 106. Fan club devoted to “Only Murders in the Building” actor Martin? — Answer: SHORTORDER. Hint: His admirers might jokingly place this kind of request at a diner. 🍽️
  62. 108. Provoke — Answer: RILE. Hint: Needle someone until they react. 🐝
  63. 109. Blazing — Answer: AFIRE. Hint: Describes something actively burning. 🔥
  64. 110. Formally surrender — Answer: CEDE. Hint: Hand over rights or territory by agreement. 🤝
  65. 111. Buddies — Answer: MATES. Hint: Close companions, especially in casual speech. 👫
  66. 112. Bull by the sea — Answer: SEAL. Hint: Think of a male marine pinniped lounging near the shore 🦭
  67. 113. Joined the 10K — Answer: RACED. Hint: This describes taking part in a footrace 🏃
  68. 114. Has a mortgage — Answer: OWES. Hint: A homeowner in debt still has money to repay 💳
  69. 115. Above — Answer: ATOP. Hint: Use this for something positioned overhead ⬆️

Down

  1. 1. Bull in the sky — Answer: TAURUS. Hint: Look to the zodiac for this celestial bull ♉
  2. 2. Back up — Answer: ASSIST. Hint: Offer help or reinforcement when needed 🆘
  3. 3. Unimpressed response — Answer: MEH. Hint: Give this shrugging reaction when something barely interests you 😑
  4. 4. Only character in all seven Narnia books — Answer: ASLAN. Hint: The wise lion appears throughout the entire Narnia saga 🦁
  5. 5. Catch, as flies — Answer: SHAG. Hint: A fly-catching animal may do this in midair 🪰
  6. 6. Approaching — Answer: NIGH. Hint: Something nearly here is drawing close. ⏳
  7. 7. Crested lizard — Answer: IGUANA. Hint: Picture a spiny reptile with a dramatic head crest 🦎
  8. 8. Accepted standard — Answer: THENORM. Hint: This is what convention regards as usual ✅
  9. 9. Tricky billiards shot — Answer: MASSE. Hint: The cue ball curves when the stick is raised steeply 🎱
  10. 10. Barbaric — Answer: CRUEL. Hint: Describe behavior that is brutally heartless 🪓
  11. 11. Some stadium features — Answer: DOMES. Hint: Look up to find these rounded coverings over certain venues 🏟️
  12. 12. Bed table item — Answer: LAMP. Hint: A bedside surface often holds this source of light 🛏️
  13. 13. Amount past due — Answer: TRE. Hint: Think of an overdue quantity still awaiting payment ⏰
  14. 14. Taper off — Answer: DECLINE. Hint: This means to gradually lessen or weaken 📉
  15. 15. About to explode — Answer: IRATE. Hint: Someone on the verge of losing their temper feels this way 😤
  16. 16. “Come on!” in La Paz — Answer: VAMOS. Hint: Use this Spanish cheer to urge someone forward 🇧🇴
  17. 17. Death on the Nile causes, perhaps — Answer: ASPS. Hint: These venomous serpents could explain the fatalities 🐍
  18. 18. President born on an island — Answer: OBAMA. Hint: Think of the U.S. leader whose birthplace was Hawaii. 🌺
  19. 23. Small salamander — Answer: EFT. Hint: This tiny newt is often found in ponds and damp woods. 🦎
  20. 25. Once in a blue moon — Answer: RARELY. Hint: It describes something that happens only on very uncommon occasions. 🌙
  21. 31. Pioneering DVR — Answer: TIVO. Hint: This brand helped bring pause-and-record television into living rooms. 📺
  22. 33. Fan club devoted to Sex Pistols bassist Sid? — Answer: VICIOUSCIRCLE. Hint: Imagine a fan group for Sid caught in a never-ending loop. 🔄
  23. 34. They may be collared — Answer: PERPS. Hint: Police slang for suspected lawbreakers fits this term. 🚓
  24. 36. Kills, as a dragon — Answer: SLAYS. Hint: Use this dramatic verb when a hero defeats a mythical fire-breather. 🐉
  25. 37. Fabled also-ran — Answer: HARE. Hint: In the famous race, this speedy animal loses by resting too long. 🐢
  26. 38. John and Denny, in a 1960s rock foursome — Answer: PAPAS. Hint: Think of the male half of a famous 1960s singing group. 🎶
  27. 40. Nonstudio films — Answer: INDIES. Hint: These films are made outside the major studio system. 🎬
  28. 41. Shrek and Fiona, e.g. — Answer: OGRES. Hint: The green couple from Far Far Away are both fairy-tale giants. 💚
  29. 43. Mischievous — Answer: IMPISH. Hint: A playful troublemaker might be described this way. 😈
  30. 44. Singer Mariah — Answer: CAREY. Hint: This surname belongs to the vocalist behind “Hero.” 🎤
  31. 45. “Teardrop of India” — Answer: SRILANKA. Hint: This island nation is nicknamed for its teardrop shape below India. 🌴
  32. 46. Make oneself at home — Answer: SETTLEIN. Hint: Get comfortable and act as though you belong there. 🛋️
  33. 47. City in California’s Monterey County — Answer: SOLEDAD. Hint: This Monterey County city shares its name with a Spanish word for solitude. 🌄
  34. 48. John of “Face/Off” — Answer: TRAVOLTA. Hint: John played Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction and starred in Face/Off. 🎥
  35. 49. Flush — Answer: ROSINESS. Hint: A healthy pink glow in the cheeks can describe this. 😊
  36. 50. “Live long and prosper” speaker — Answer: MRSPOCK. Hint: Think of the pointy-eared Vulcan who made this phrase famous. 🖖
  37. 52. Eager agreement — Answer: HECKYES. Hint: An emphatic, slightly cheeky way to say absolutely. 🙌
  38. 54. Maze stopper — Answer: DEADEND. Hint: It is a path that terminates without an exit. 🧩
  39. 58. Bollywood garment — Answer: SARI. Hint: This colorful South Asian outfit is often draped elegantly. 👗
  40. 60. Label for Booker T. & the M.G.’s and the Staple Singers — Answer: STAX. Hint: This influential Memphis record company released plenty of soul classics. 🎶
  41. 62. Shaped in a shop, in a way — Answer: LATHED. Hint: A machine tool has given it a rounded form. ⚙️
  42. 63. Far from sufficient — Answer: MEASLY. Hint: It describes an amount that is pitifully small. 🤏
  43. 65. It’s a piece of cake — Answer: SLICE. Hint: Think of one portion cut from a dessert. 🍰
  44. 66. Avarice — Answer: GREED. Hint: An intense desire to possess more wealth than you need 💰
  45. 68. Modem measures — Answer: BAUDS. Hint: These measure the rate of signal changes in data transmission. 💻
  46. 69. Some first-time voters — Answer: TEENS. Hint: They are young people newly eligible to cast a ballot. 🗳️
  47. 71. Cuts back — Answer: TRIMS. Hint: It reduces or neatly prunes something. ✂️
  48. 73. Sch. support groups — Answer: PTAS. Hint: Parents and teachers often join these school organizations. 🏫
  49. 76. Neptune’s largest moon — Answer: TRITON. Hint: This satellite shares its name with a figure from Greek mythology. 🌙
  50. 78. Teacher’s deg. — Answer: BSED. Hint: It is an education degree for someone preparing to teach. 🎓
  51. 80. Chapel Hill athlete — Answer: TARHEEL. Hint: This competitor represents the University of North Carolina. 🏀
  52. 82. “The Bald Soprano” playwright — Answer: IONESCO. Hint: The absurdist drama was written by a Romanian-French playwright. 🎭
  53. 86. Forswear — Answer: ESCHEW. Hint: To do this is to deliberately renounce or avoid something. 🚫
  54. 88. “My pleasure” — Answer: GLADTO. Hint: This cheerful reply often follows a word of thanks. 😊
  55. 89. Hail Mary instruction — Answer: GODEEP. Hint: When you're aiming for a big play, think of going further downfield! 🏈
  56. 90. Milky Way ingredients — Answer: STARS. Hint: Our galaxy contains billions of these shining objects. ✨
  57. 91. Organizing expert Kondo — Answer: MARIE. Hint: This Japanese tidying guru encourages keeping only what sparks joy. 🧺
  58. 92. Express through eight states — Answer: ACELA. Hint: This high-speed Amtrak service links cities along the Northeast Corridor. 🚆
  59. 93. Bagel-shaped — Answer: TORIC. Hint: In geometry, it describes a form resembling a doughnut. 🍩
  60. 94. Startlingly odd — Answer: OUTRE. Hint: Think of something bizarre, unconventional, and strikingly unusual. 🤪
  61. 95. Excited, with “up” — Answer: KEYED. Hint: This describes someone energized and ready for action. ⚡
  62. 96. Fragment — Answer: BIT. Hint: A tiny piece or small amount fits this clue. 🧩
  63. 97. Bakery enticement — Answer: AROMA. Hint: A tempting smell from fresh-baked goods could draw customers in. 🥐
  64. 98. MLB team VIPs — Answer: MGRS. Hint: These baseball leaders make the strategic calls for their teams. ⚾
  65. 99. Tennis’s Nadal, familiarly — Answer: RAFA. Hint: Use the Spanish champion’s well-known nickname. 🎾
  66. 101. Ore source — Answer: LODE. Hint: Look for a rich vein where valuable minerals are found. ⛏️
  67. 102. “Iliad” warrior — Answer: ARES. Hint: This Greek god is closely associated with the fury of battle. ⚔️
  68. 105. Round number, of a sort — Answer: PAR. Hint: In golf, this marks the standard number of strokes for a hole or course. ⛳
  69. 107. Traitorous singer — Answer: RAT. Hint: A betrayer might be branded with this unflattering animal label. 🐀

The answer to ““Teardrop of India”” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is SRILANKA — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 28, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 45-Down. 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.

““Teardrop of India”” answer

SRILANKA (8 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 SRILANKA.

When else has ““Teardrop of India”” 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.

August 28, 2026 (most recent) → SRILANKA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to ““Teardrop of India””?

The answer is SRILANKA, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 28, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to ““Teardrop of India””?

8 letters: SRILANKA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 28, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 45-Down.

Can ““Teardrop of India”” 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 August 28, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

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