WaPo Crossword Answers Today

Thursday’s Daily

By Desirée Penner & Jeff Sinnock · Edited by Patti Varol

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Across

  1. 1Biblical queen's landSHEBA
  2. 6"Hurry!" lettersASAP
  3. 10Mojito garnishMINT
  4. 14Cultured sort?PEARL
  5. 15InterpretationTAKE
  6. 16Chimps and gorillasAPES
  7. 17Like 11-Down and 27-Across, oftenONTAP
  8. 18Reply when Mr. Nicholson asks, "How do you like your coffee?"BLACKJACK
  9. 20Lode loadORE
  10. 21Bam Adebayo's teamHEAT
  11. 23Merchant stallsKIOSKS
  12. 24Reply when Mr. Garfunkel asks how everyone is doing?FINEART
  13. 26BelovedDEAR
  14. 27Beer with a Grillo's Pickles flavor, brieflyPBR
  15. 28Short clip?VID
  16. 29WarbledSANG
  17. 33Bicycle spokes, essentiallyRADII
  18. 36Grand-scale talesSAGAS
  19. 38Battle (for)VIE
  20. 39Reply when Mr. Nye asks why there are so many wind turbines?ELECTRICITYBILL
  21. 42Yahoo! alternativeAOL
  22. 43Midsize carSEDAN
  23. 44Great Grandma?MOSES
  24. 45Lat neighborDELT
  25. 47"Mean Girls" screenwriter TinaFEY
  26. 48Center prefixEPI
  27. 49Big bustlesADOS
  28. 51Reply when Ms. Deeley mentions her new TV gig?COOLCAT
  29. 55One with an eye for dotting i'sEDITOR
  30. 58DownsidesCONS
  31. 59Director DuVernayAVA
  32. 60Reply when Mr. Hamill says, "May the Force be with you"?DITTOMARK
  33. 62Along for the ride, sayINTOW
  34. 64NerveGALL
  35. 65Lake at the Detroit River's endERIE
  36. 66Track star BoltUSAIN
  37. 67Fashion monthlyELLE
  38. 68Informal claimDIBS
  39. 69Moore of "This Is Us"MANDY

Down

  1. 1"Weird Al" specialtySPOOF
  2. 2Postimpressionist painter RousseauHENRI
  3. 3All finished, sayEATEN
  4. 4Wacoal garmentBRA
  5. 5Cereal that once featured a crossword puzzle in magazine adsALPHABITS
  6. 6Currently hittingATBAT
  7. 7Curing agentSALT
  8. 8Otherwise calledAKA
  9. 9Like a bird feederPECKEDAT
  10. 10College pathsMAJORS
  11. 11Some craft pours, for shortIPAS
  12. 12Make outNECK
  13. 13TutsTSKS
  14. 19Korean automakerKIA
  15. 22Go amissERR
  16. 25Grand-scale taleEPIC
  17. 26"Bon appetit!"DIGIN
  18. 28Short trip?VACAY
  19. 30Rental car giantAVIS
  20. 31River near the Great PyramidNILE
  21. 32Meshes wellGELS
  22. 33InterpretationREAD
  23. 34Spiky succulentALOE
  24. 35"Hi-ho, the derry-o" localeDELL
  25. 36Heads and tailsSIDES
  26. 37Academic gatheringSYMPOSIUM
  27. 40Back on the straight and narrowREFORMED
  28. 41FumeBOIL
  29. 46Be a ratTATTLE
  30. 48One billion yearsEON
  31. 50"Yabba-dabba-__!"DOO
  32. 51Classic colasCOKES
  33. 52Board game with settlersCATAN
  34. 53Dance aroundAVOID
  35. 54Like some portTAWNY
  36. 55PerimeterEDGE
  37. 56Body wash brandDIAL
  38. 57"C'mon, __ be fun"ITLL
  39. 58Spot for a totCRIB
  40. 61Cal. neighborARI
  41. 63Codebreaker Challenge org.NSA

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Biblical queen's land — Answer: SHEBA. Hint: Think of the ancient realm ruled by the famed queen who visited Solomon. 👑
  2. 6. "Hurry!" letters — Answer: ASAP. Hint: This abbreviation means something should happen immediately. ⏩
  3. 10. Mojito garnish — Answer: MINT. Hint: This refreshing herb adds a cool, fragrant touch to the cocktail. 🌿
  4. 14. Cultured sort? — Answer: PEARL. Hint: Think of a polished gem grown inside an oyster rather than mined from rock. 🦪
  5. 15. Interpretation — Answer: TAKE. Hint: Think of a viewpoint—or another recorded attempt at the same scene. 🎬
  6. 16. Chimps and gorillas — Answer: APES. Hint: Think of the broad primate group that includes chimpanzees and gorillas 🐒
  7. 17. Like 11-Down and 27-Across, often — Answer: ONTAP. Hint: Think of a drink that’s ready to pour at the bar. 🍺
  8. 18. Reply when Mr. Nicholson asks, "How do you like your coffee?" — Answer: BLACKJACK. Hint: Combine a dark coffee preference with Nicholson’s first name for this playful reply. ☕
  9. 20. Lode load — Answer: ORE. Hint: A mineral-rich deposit can carry this kind of load. ⛏️
  10. 21. Bam Adebayo's team — Answer: HEAT. Hint: This NBA squad plays in Miami and is known for its fiery nickname. 🔥
  11. 23. Merchant stalls — Answer: KIOSKS. Hint: Small retail booths found in malls or markets 🛍️
  12. 24. Reply when Mr. Garfunkel asks how everyone is doing? — Answer: FINEART. Hint: Give a cheerful well-being reply while addressing the singer by his first name. 🎤
  13. 26. Beloved — Answer: DEAR. Hint: A warm term for someone cherished. 💛
  14. 27. Beer with a Grillo's Pickles flavor, briefly — Answer: PBR. Hint: Look for the familiar American lager featured in a tangy pickle-flavored collaboration. 🍺
  15. 28. Short clip? — Answer: VID. Hint: A brief moving-picture snippet you might post online 📹
  16. 29. Warbled — Answer: SANG. Hint: They delivered the melody in a cheerful, trilling voice. 🎶
  17. 33. Bicycle spokes, essentially — Answer: RADII. Hint: Think of the geometric term for lines stretching from a circle’s center to its edge 🛞
  18. 36. Grand-scale tales — Answer: SAGAS. Hint: Think of sweeping stories that span generations and adventures. 📚
  19. 38. Battle (for) — Answer: VIE. Hint: To battle for something is to compete to win it. ⚔️
  20. 39. Reply when Mr. Nye asks why there are so many wind turbines? — Answer: ELECTRICITYBILL. Hint: Think of the monthly notice from your power company after all that wind-generated energy. ⚡
  21. 42. Yahoo! alternative — Answer: AOL. Hint: Think of the classic internet service known for its cheerful welcome message. 🌐
  22. 43. Midsize car — Answer: SEDAN. Hint: Think of a common four-door passenger car with a separate trunk 🚗
  23. 44. Great Grandma? — Answer: MOSES. Hint: Think of the self-taught folk artist famously known by a family nickname. 🎨
  24. 45. Lat neighbor — Answer: DELT. Hint: Think of the shoulder muscle next to the broad back muscle. 💪
  25. 47. "Mean Girls" screenwriter Tina — Answer: FEY. Hint: Think of the comedian who created 30 Rock and played Liz Lemon 🎬
  26. 48. Center prefix — Answer: EPI. Hint: Look for a prefix meaning “upon” or “over” in words describing position. 🔍
  27. 49. Big bustles — Answer: ADOS. Hint: Think of loud, hectic fusses that make everything feel busy. 😵‍💫
  28. 51. Reply when Ms. Deeley mentions her new TV gig? — Answer: COOLCAT. Hint: Think of a laid-back compliment that also nods to the presenter’s surname. 😎
  29. 55. One with an eye for dotting i's — Answer: EDITOR. Hint: This meticulous proofreader makes sure every tiny mark is in its proper place. ✍️
  30. 58. Downsides — Answer: CONS. Hint: Think of the drawbacks or negative aspects of something. ⚖️
  31. 59. Director DuVernay — Answer: AVA. Hint: Think of the filmmaker behind “Selma” and “A Wrinkle in Time” 😊
  32. 60. Reply when Mr. Hamill says, "May the Force be with you"? — Answer: DITTOMARK. Hint: Echo the famous blessing with the old proofreading symbol meaning “same as above.” ✨
  33. 62. Along for the ride, say — Answer: INTOW. Hint: Something being brought along is described this way in a towing phrase. 🚗
  34. 64. Nerve — Answer: GALL. Hint: This kind of nerve means bold, shameless audacity 😏
  35. 65. Lake at the Detroit River's end — Answer: ERIE. Hint: Think of the Great Lake that lies just east of Detroit and borders Buffalo. 🌊
  36. 66. Track star Bolt — Answer: USAIN. Hint: Think of the Jamaican sprinting legend whose surname sounds like a flash of lightning. ⚡
  37. 67. Fashion monthly — Answer: ELLE. Hint: Think of a glossy magazine devoted to fashion and style. 👗
  38. 68. Informal claim — Answer: DIBS. Hint: A casual way to say you’re calling first choice on something. ✋
  39. 69. Moore of "This Is Us" — Answer: MANDY. Hint: Think of the actress who portrayed Rebecca Pearson in the family drama “This Is Us.” 🎬

Down

  1. 1. "Weird Al" specialty — Answer: SPOOF. Hint: Think of a humorous musical imitation that pokes fun at a familiar hit. 🎵
  2. 2. Postimpressionist painter Rousseau — Answer: HENRI. Hint: Think of the French painter famous for dreamy jungle scenes and a self-taught style. 🎨
  3. 3. All finished, say — Answer: EATEN. Hint: It describes a plate after every bite has disappeared. 🍽️
  4. 4. Wacoal garment — Answer: BRA. Hint: It’s a supportive piece of lingerie made by this Japanese brand. 👗
  5. 5. Cereal that once featured a crossword puzzle in magazine ads — Answer: ALPHABITS. Hint: Think of the breakfast cereal whose name turns every spoonful into a little word game. 🥣
  6. 6. Currently hitting — Answer: ATBAT. Hint: A baseball player doing this is up at the plate right now ⚾
  7. 7. Curing agent — Answer: SALT. Hint: This kitchen staple preserves meats while boosting their flavor. 🧂
  8. 8. Otherwise called — Answer: AKA. Hint: A concise phrase used to introduce an alternative name. 🏷️
  9. 9. Like a bird feeder — Answer: PECKEDAT. Hint: What hungry birds may have done to it while dining 🐦
  10. 10. College paths — Answer: MAJORS. Hint: Think of the fields students choose to study in college. 🎓
  11. 11. Some craft pours, for short — Answer: IPAS. Hint: These hoppy craft beers are often ordered by their abbreviated name 🍺
  12. 12. Make out — Answer: NECK. Hint: Share some passionate kissing and cuddling with your sweetheart. 💋
  13. 13. Tuts — Answer: TSKS. Hint: A tiny sound of disapproval, like a verbal finger wag. 😒
  14. 19. Korean automaker — Answer: KIA. Hint: Think of the South Korean carmaker behind models like the Sportage and Sorento. 🚗
  15. 22. Go amiss — Answer: ERR. Hint: Think of what happens when something goes wrong or misses the mark. 🎯
  16. 25. Grand-scale tale — Answer: EPIC. Hint: Think of a sweeping, larger-than-life story told on a monumental scale. 📖
  17. 26. "Bon appetit!" — Answer: DIGIN. Hint: A cheerful invitation to start eating right away. 🍽️
  18. 28. Short trip? — Answer: VACAY. Hint: Think of a casual getaway taken for fun or a refreshing break. 🧳
  19. 30. Rental car giant — Answer: AVIS. Hint: Think of a familiar rental-car company whose name is also Latin for “bird.” 🚗
  20. 31. River near the Great Pyramid — Answer: NILE. Hint: Think of the famous Egyptian river flowing past Giza’s ancient pyramids. 🌊
  21. 32. Meshes well — Answer: GELS. Hint: Fits together smoothly and harmoniously, like a team that clicks right away 🤝
  22. 33. Interpretation — Answer: READ. Hint: It’s the meaning you take from words, art, or events. 🔍
  23. 34. Spiky succulent — Answer: ALOE. Hint: This hardy plant is famous for the soothing gel inside its prickly leaves 🌿
  24. 35. "Hi-ho, the derry-o" locale — Answer: DELL. Hint: Think of the cozy little valley where the farmer and his friends gather in the nursery rhyme 🌾
  25. 36. Heads and tails — Answer: SIDES. Hint: Think of the two outer edges between a coin’s front and back. ↔️
  26. 37. Academic gathering — Answer: SYMPOSIUM. Hint: A formal event where scholars come together to share ideas. 🎓
  27. 40. Back on the straight and narrow — Answer: REFORMED. Hint: It describes someone who has changed their ways for the better. 🔄
  28. 41. Fume — Answer: BOIL. Hint: Like water on a stove, you might do this when anger gets heated. 😤
  29. 46. Be a rat — Answer: TATTLE. Hint: Think of what you might do when you snitch on a friend. 🐀
  30. 48. One billion years — Answer: EON. Hint: Think of a geological stretch of time so vast that human history looks tiny. 🕰️
  31. 50. "Yabba-dabba-__!" — Answer: DOO. Hint: Complete Fred Flintstone’s famous catchphrase with its playful final exclamation! 🦴
  32. 51. Classic colas — Answer: COKES. Hint: Think of the familiar fizzy drinks served at a soda fountain. 🥤
  33. 52. Board game with settlers — Answer: CATAN. Hint: Trade resources, build roads, and race to develop your island in this classic strategy game. 🎲
  34. 53. Dance around — Answer: AVOID. Hint: Choose to sidestep the issue instead of facing it directly 💃
  35. 54. Like some port — Answer: TAWNY. Hint: Think of a mature, reddish-brown fortified wine often enjoyed after dinner. 🍷
  36. 55. Perimeter — Answer: EDGE. Hint: Think of the outer boundary that surrounds a shape. 🔲
  37. 56. Body wash brand — Answer: DIAL. Hint: Think of a cleansing brand that also shares its name with a phone-control feature. ☎️
  38. 57. "C'mon, __ be fun" — Answer: ITLL. Hint: This blank calls for a casual contraction meaning “it will,” as in an upbeat invitation. 😊
  39. 58. Spot for a tot — Answer: CRIB. Hint: A cozy little bed where a baby can sleep 🛏️
  40. 61. Cal. neighbor — Answer: ARI. Hint: Think of the southwestern state that borders California. 🗺️
  41. 63. Codebreaker Challenge org. — Answer: NSA. Hint: Think of the U.S. intelligence agency known for signals intelligence and cybersecurity challenges. 🕵️

Recent WaPo Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

WaPo Crossword 12 August 2026WaPo Crossword 11 August 2026WaPo Crossword 10 August 2026WaPo Crossword 9 August 2026WaPo Crossword 8 August 2026WaPo Crossword 7 August 2026WaPo Crossword 6 August 2026

Looking for today's Washington Post Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated August 13, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated the moment the new grid goes live. The WaPo crossword is a free daily 15×15 with fair, conversational cluing, played by millions online. Whether you're checking a finished grid, unlocking one stubborn square, or want the whole answer key, every across and down solution is listed below.

Full WaPo Crossword answer list for today

Every clue from today's grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Biblical queen's landSHEBA
6"Hurry!" lettersASAP
10Mojito garnishMINT
14Cultured sort?PEARL
15InterpretationTAKE
16Chimps and gorillasAPES
17Like 11-Down and 27-Across, oftenONTAP
18Reply when Mr. Nicholson asks, "How do you like your coffee?"BLACKJACK
20Lode loadORE
21Bam Adebayo's teamHEAT
23Merchant stallsKIOSKS
24Reply when Mr. Garfunkel asks how everyone is doing?FINEART
26BelovedDEAR
27Beer with a Grillo's Pickles flavor, brieflyPBR
28Short clip?VID
29WarbledSANG
33Bicycle spokes, essentiallyRADII
36Grand-scale talesSAGAS
38Battle (for)VIE
39Reply when Mr. Nye asks why there are so many wind turbines?ELECTRICITYBILL
42Yahoo! alternativeAOL
43Midsize carSEDAN
44Great Grandma?MOSES
45Lat neighborDELT
47"Mean Girls" screenwriter TinaFEY
48Center prefixEPI
49Big bustlesADOS
51Reply when Ms. Deeley mentions her new TV gig?COOLCAT
55One with an eye for dotting i'sEDITOR
58DownsidesCONS
59Director DuVernayAVA
60Reply when Mr. Hamill says, "May the Force be with you"?DITTOMARK
62Along for the ride, sayINTOW
64NerveGALL
65Lake at the Detroit River's endERIE
66Track star BoltUSAIN
67Fashion monthlyELLE
68Informal claimDIBS
69Moore of "This Is Us"MANDY

Down

#ClueAnswer
1"Weird Al" specialtySPOOF
2Postimpressionist painter RousseauHENRI
3All finished, sayEATEN
4Wacoal garmentBRA
5Cereal that once featured a crossword puzzle in magazine adsALPHABITS
6Currently hittingATBAT
7Curing agentSALT
8Otherwise calledAKA
9Like a bird feederPECKEDAT
10College pathsMAJORS
11Some craft pours, for shortIPAS
12Make outNECK
13TutsTSKS
19Korean automakerKIA
22Go amissERR
25Grand-scale taleEPIC
26"Bon appetit!"DIGIN
28Short trip?VACAY
30Rental car giantAVIS
31River near the Great PyramidNILE
32Meshes wellGELS
33InterpretationREAD
34Spiky succulentALOE
35"Hi-ho, the derry-o" localeDELL
36Heads and tailsSIDES
37Academic gatheringSYMPOSIUM
40Back on the straight and narrowREFORMED
41FumeBOIL
46Be a ratTATTLE
48One billion yearsEON
50"Yabba-dabba-__!"DOO
51Classic colasCOKES
52Board game with settlersCATAN
53Dance aroundAVOID
54Like some portTAWNY
55PerimeterEDGE
56Body wash brandDIAL
57"C'mon, __ be fun"ITLL
58Spot for a totCRIB
61Cal. neighborARI
63Codebreaker Challenge org.NSA

Today's Washington Post Crossword answers

Today's solution appears above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as the grid reads. Because a full crossword shares so many crossings, one wrong letter can block a whole corner, so we list each answer separately: reveal only the one you need and keep solving the rest yourself. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as the puzzle is published.

What is the Washington Post Crossword?

The Washington Post Crossword is the paper's free daily puzzle — a classic American 15×15 on weekdays (larger on Sunday), played at washingtonpost.com/games/crossword. It's known for fair, conversational cluing and approachable themes: a solid everyday solve that sits neatly between a quick mini and the toughest end of the NYT week. Millions of solvers treat it as a weekday habit, which is why a single tricky clue can send people hunting for just that one answer without spoiling the rest of the grid.

How the WaPo Crossword compares to other dailies

It shares the same 15×15 shape as the big American dailies, with its own editorial voice:

WaPoNYT (main)LA Times
Grid size15×15 (larger Sunday)15×15 (21×21 Sunday)15×15 (larger Sunday)
DifficultyAccessible, fairRamps to a hard SaturdayAccessible, smooth
CostFree onlineGames subscriptionFree online
Clue styleConversational themesHeavy wordplay, misdirectionFair, playful themes

Tips for solving the WaPo Crossword

  • Crack the theme early. Long theme answers often share a twist — spotting it hands you several entries at once.
  • Start with the fill-in-the-blanks. They're the quickest points and flood the grid with crossing letters.
  • Trust the crossings. A clue you can't get alone usually falls once its crossing words are in place.
  • Watch the endings. Plurals end in S, past-tense answers in ED — free letters once you notice the clue's tense.
  • Use the solver for one answer. Our crossword solver reveals a single clue's answer from your known letters, without spoiling the rest.

Browse past Washington Post Crossword answers

Every previous WaPo Crossword is archived on this page by date, with its full across and down solutions — handy for checking yesterday's grid or one you set aside. The archive updates automatically each day, so it stays complete without spoiling the current day. Stuck on a single clue, our crossword solver will reveal just that answer.

Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.

Frequently asked questions

What are today's Washington Post Crossword answers?

The full Across and Down solution for today's puzzle (August 13, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as it's released.

Is the Washington Post Crossword free?

Yes — it's free to play online each day at washingtonpost.com/games/crossword, and our answers and clues are free too.

How do I see just one answer without spoiling the rest?

Each answer is listed separately, so you can reveal only the clue you're stuck on and keep solving the rest of the grid yourself.

How is the WaPo Crossword different from the WaPo Mini?

The daily crossword is a full 15×15 (larger on Sunday); the Mini is a tiny speed puzzle. Same publisher, different size and solve time.

Where can I find past Washington Post Crossword answers?

Every previous puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today 7 Little Words Answers