WaPo Crossword Answers Today

Friday’s Daily

By Katie Hale · Edited by Patti Varol

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Across

  1. 1"Cor, blimey!"ISAY
  2. 5Oxygen co-creatorOPRAH
  3. 10Mascaron imageFACE
  4. 14Drive-__THRU
  5. 15Tricky tennis serveSLICE
  6. 16Traffic-dependent figs.ETAS
  7. 17Azaria of "Brockmire"HANK
  8. 18*Action figure at the bottom of a pool?SUNKENDOLL
  9. 20WSW reversalENE
  10. 21Virtual citizenrySIMS
  11. 22Dad's sisterAUNT
  12. 23*Naval officer's very quiet "ahoy there"?LITTLEBOSUNPEEP
  13. 28Outdoor dining spotPATIO
  14. 29"Oh, now I see"AHA
  15. 30TV controller?FCC
  16. 3119th Greek letterTAU
  17. 33Cryptography org.NSA
  18. 34Mineralogist who created a scaleMOHS
  19. 35*Jokes about miscellaneous items?SUNDRYHUMOR
  20. 382025 WNBA championsACES
  21. 40Solstice mo.DEC
  22. 41Live and __ liveLET
  23. 42"Starship Troopers" backdropWAR
  24. 43ZingPEP
  25. 44Gives, but not foreverLENDS
  26. 48*Essential for authors who work at the beach?WRITERSSUNBLOCK
  27. 53Olympic swimmer TorresDARA
  28. 54CruisingASEA
  29. 55__ leaf: stew herbBAY
  30. 56Clean energy option, or a hint to what the answers to the starred clues have?SOLARPOWER
  31. 59Snitch (on)NARC
  32. 60"Copacabana" bartenderTONY
  33. 61Hugo or EdgarAWARD
  34. 62Wayfair rivalIKEA
  35. 63Referendum sidePROS
  36. 64Like some bunsMESSY
  37. 65Join (up)TEAM

Down

  1. 1Networking assistanceITHELP
  2. 2Grammy winner TwainSHANIA
  3. 3"Is This Thing On?" star WillARNETT
  4. 4Big laughYUK
  5. 5Activist/actor DavisOSSIE
  6. 6Straight upPLUMB
  7. 7Classic laundry soapRINSO
  8. 8"Jeepers!"ACK
  9. 9Little laughHEE
  10. 10Beyond irritatedFEDUP
  11. 11Try to make rightATONEFOR
  12. 12Pasadena research univ.CALTECH
  13. 13Pre-naturalization test course, for shortESL
  14. 19Meemaw alternativeNANA
  15. 21"McSorley's Bar" painterSLOAN
  16. 24"__ Andronicus"TITUS
  17. 25Ceremonial accessorySASH
  18. 26Rental after closing, maybeUHAUL
  19. 27Hardware for XboxPCS
  20. 32Cow's milk sourceUDDER
  21. 33US Open localeNYC
  22. 34Interstate stopoverMOTEL
  23. 35Fig. for ordering replacement partsSERIALNO
  24. 36Set piecesREPS
  25. 37Peach __MELBA
  26. 38"So sweet!"AWW
  27. 39Side mirror spotCARDOOR
  28. 43Cider sourcePEAR
  29. 45Like some cheesecakeNOBAKE
  30. 46Region with many Nats fans, brieflyDCAREA
  31. 47Overview producer?SKYCAM
  32. 49Canteen stackTRAYS
  33. 50Perceived to beSAWAS
  34. 511-Down callersUSERS
  35. 52UncoolNERDY
  36. 56Auto care brandSTP
  37. 57Actress GrierPAM
  38. 58Come up short, maybeOWE
  39. 59Minor quibbleNIT

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

Looking for today's Washington Post Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated August 14, 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
1"Cor, blimey!"ISAY
5Oxygen co-creatorOPRAH
10Mascaron imageFACE
14Drive-__THRU
15Tricky tennis serveSLICE
16Traffic-dependent figs.ETAS
17Azaria of "Brockmire"HANK
18*Action figure at the bottom of a pool?SUNKENDOLL
20WSW reversalENE
21Virtual citizenrySIMS
22Dad's sisterAUNT
23*Naval officer's very quiet "ahoy there"?LITTLEBOSUNPEEP
28Outdoor dining spotPATIO
29"Oh, now I see"AHA
30TV controller?FCC
3119th Greek letterTAU
33Cryptography org.NSA
34Mineralogist who created a scaleMOHS
35*Jokes about miscellaneous items?SUNDRYHUMOR
382025 WNBA championsACES
40Solstice mo.DEC
41Live and __ liveLET
42"Starship Troopers" backdropWAR
43ZingPEP
44Gives, but not foreverLENDS
48*Essential for authors who work at the beach?WRITERSSUNBLOCK
53Olympic swimmer TorresDARA
54CruisingASEA
55__ leaf: stew herbBAY
56Clean energy option, or a hint to what the answers to the starred clues have?SOLARPOWER
59Snitch (on)NARC
60"Copacabana" bartenderTONY
61Hugo or EdgarAWARD
62Wayfair rivalIKEA
63Referendum sidePROS
64Like some bunsMESSY
65Join (up)TEAM

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Networking assistanceITHELP
2Grammy winner TwainSHANIA
3"Is This Thing On?" star WillARNETT
4Big laughYUK
5Activist/actor DavisOSSIE
6Straight upPLUMB
7Classic laundry soapRINSO
8"Jeepers!"ACK
9Little laughHEE
10Beyond irritatedFEDUP
11Try to make rightATONEFOR
12Pasadena research univ.CALTECH
13Pre-naturalization test course, for shortESL
19Meemaw alternativeNANA
21"McSorley's Bar" painterSLOAN
24"__ Andronicus"TITUS
25Ceremonial accessorySASH
26Rental after closing, maybeUHAUL
27Hardware for XboxPCS
32Cow's milk sourceUDDER
33US Open localeNYC
34Interstate stopoverMOTEL
35Fig. for ordering replacement partsSERIALNO
36Set piecesREPS
37Peach __MELBA
38"So sweet!"AWW
39Side mirror spotCARDOOR
43Cider sourcePEAR
45Like some cheesecakeNOBAKE
46Region with many Nats fans, brieflyDCAREA
47Overview producer?SKYCAM
49Canteen stackTRAYS
50Perceived to beSAWAS
511-Down callersUSERS
52UncoolNERDY
56Auto care brandSTP
57Actress GrierPAM
58Come up short, maybeOWE
59Minor quibbleNIT

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 14, 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