WaPo Crossword Answers - Aug 21

Friday’s Daily

By Megan Heneke · Edited by Patti Varol

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Across

  1. 1Graduate from a balance bikePEDAL
  2. 6"Zounds!"EGAD
  3. 10"Not only that ... "PLUS
  4. 14Sauce for chipotlesADOBO
  5. 15German automakerAUDI
  6. 16Nana's daughterAUNT
  7. 17Collar clip-onIDTAG
  8. 18Hard punchSLUG
  9. 19Big name in morning TVRIPA
  10. 20Get the gray out, sayDYE
  11. 21"A bottle where the rapid decrease in pressure upon opening creates foam, please" request?BOYLESLAGER
  12. 24Caitlin Clark's home stateIOWA
  13. 25Topical antisepticIODINE
  14. 26"A light coffee, and do not drop it, please" request?NEWTONSLATTE
  15. 31Small flower?CREEK
  16. 32Raw mineralsORES
  17. 33"Nature" airerPBS
  18. 36Biblical name of ancient SyriaARAM
  19. 37Wolverines and BadgersTEAMS
  20. 39Canada Goose garmentCOAT
  21. 40InquireASK
  22. 41Head of a museum?BUST
  23. 42Full of passionFIERY
  24. 43"I'll take my potato as a pancake (but you'll probably bring fries)" request?MURPHYSLATKE
  25. 46Future residentINTERN
  26. 49Cringeworthy, in Gen Alpha slangOHIO
  27. 50Strict enforcement of the rules for a civil society, or how to process the requests in 21-, 26-, and 43-Across?LAWANDORDER
  28. 53Greek TTAU
  29. 56Tofu nutrientIRON
  30. 57Drama honorOBIE
  31. 58Feature of some accentsTWANG
  32. 60Smoothie berryACAI
  33. 61Merino, e.g.WOOL
  34. 62"Pale Blue Dot" subjectEARTH
  35. 63Top of many an indoor stadiumDOME
  36. 64Trawling equipmentNETS
  37. 65ClotheDRESS

Down

  1. 1Took care of, sayPAID
  2. 2Circular currentEDDY
  3. 3Shower with love, with "on"DOTE
  4. 4Old hoops gp.ABA
  5. 5Daily recordLOGBOOK
  6. 6Causes of some grade inflationEASYAS
  7. 7Beach party?GULL
  8. 8For two voices, in musicADUE
  9. 9Archaeologists' workplacesDIGSITES
  10. 10Mardi Gras eventPARADE
  11. 11Video game brotherLUIGI
  12. 12Let out, as pigsUNPEN
  13. 13Try to decipher a stereogram, perhapsSTARE
  14. 22HaveOWN
  15. 23Auction unitsLOTS
  16. 24Bullet pointITEM
  17. 26Bracket org.NCAA
  18. 27Messes upERRS
  19. 28IneffectiveWEAK
  20. 29Unwilling (to)LOATH
  21. 30BranchARM
  22. 33Ballad writerPOET
  23. 34Oak exteriorBARK
  24. 35Ocular woeSTYE
  25. 37__ serviceTURNDOWN
  26. 38Medium abilityESP
  27. 39"Ta-ta!"CIAO
  28. 41Cutting comebackBURN
  29. 42Toyed (with)FLIRTED
  30. 43"Stop being such a jerk!"MEANIE
  31. 44Singing in some Ricola adsYODELS
  32. 45Shakira's "__ Wolf"SHE
  33. 46"Odyssey" preludeILIAD
  34. 47Many a "Breaking Bad" figureNARCO
  35. 48Clock-changing hr.TWOAM
  36. 51Cor anglais kinOBOE
  37. 52Real hootRIOT
  38. 53Scale buttonTARE
  39. 54Tunneling pestsANTS
  40. 55Cries of disgustUGHS
  41. 59Tug-of-__WAR

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Graduate from a balance bike — Answer: PEDAL. Hint: It’s the foot-powered upgrade that makes a two-wheeler go. 🚲
  2. 6. "Zounds!" — Answer: EGAD. Hint: This old-fashioned exclamation expresses sudden surprise. 😮
  3. 10. "Not only that ... " — Answer: PLUS. Hint: This additive word brings another point into the conversation. ➕
  4. 14. Sauce for chipotles — Answer: ADOBO. Hint: Look to a smoky Mexican sauce made with dried chiles and spices. 🌶️
  5. 15. German automaker — Answer: AUDI. Hint: This four-ringed marque is a famous maker of German cars. 🚗
  6. 16. Nana's daughter — Answer: AUNT. Hint: In the family tree, she is your parent’s sister. 👪
  7. 17. Collar clip-on — Answer: IDTAG. Hint: A small identification label can attach neatly to a pet’s collar. 🏷️
  8. 18. Hard punch — Answer: SLUG. Hint: In boxing, this forceful blow can drop an opponent. 🥊
  9. 19. Big name in morning TV — Answer: RIPA. Hint: This lively TV host is known for a long-running morning chat show. 📺
  10. 20. Get the gray out, say — Answer: DYE. Hint: Restore a youthful look by changing the hair’s color. 💇
  11. 21. "A bottle where the rapid decrease in pressure upon opening creates foam, please" request? — Answer: BOYLESLAGER. Hint: This playful order pairs a gas-law reference with a bubbly brew. 🍺
  12. 24. Caitlin Clark's home state — Answer: IOWA. Hint: The basketball star hails from the Hawkeye State. 🏀
  13. 25. Topical antiseptic — Answer: IODINE. Hint: This familiar brown liquid is dabbed on cuts to help prevent infection. 🩹
  14. 26. "A light coffee, and do not drop it, please" request? — Answer: NEWTONSLATTE. Hint: This punny café order combines a famous scientist with a milky coffee. ☕
  15. 31. Small flower? — Answer: CREEK. Hint: Think of something that flows, but on a much smaller scale than a river. 🌊
  16. 32. Raw minerals — Answer: ORES. Hint: These extracted earth materials await processing into useful metals. ⛏️
  17. 33. "Nature" airer — Answer: PBS. Hint: This public broadcaster is home to a beloved wildlife and science series. 📺
  18. 36. Biblical name of ancient Syria — Answer: ARAM. Hint: This ancient biblical region lay north of the land of Israel. 🗺️
  19. 37. Wolverines and Badgers — Answer: TEAMS. Hint: Both are nicknames for college athletic squads. 🏟️
  20. 39. Canada Goose garment — Answer: COAT. Hint: The winterwear brand is especially known for its warm outer layer. 🧥
  21. 40. Inquire — Answer: ASK. Hint: Use this simple verb when seeking information. 🔎
  22. 41. Head of a museum? — Answer: BUST. Hint: A sculpted torso might be the museum’s literal head. 🗿
  23. 42. Full of passion — Answer: FIERY. Hint: Think of someone burning with enthusiasm or intensity. 🔥
  24. 43. "I'll take my potato as a pancake (but you'll probably bring fries)" request? — Answer: MURPHYSLATKE. Hint: This playful order requests a potato pancake while expecting a fast-food side instead. 🍟
  25. 46. Future resident — Answer: INTERN. Hint: A trainee may eventually become a permanent member of the profession. 🎓
  26. 49. Cringeworthy, in Gen Alpha slang — Answer: OHIO. Hint: Gen Alpha may use this place-name as a label for something painfully awkward. 😬
  27. 50. Strict enforcement of the rules for a civil society, or how to process the requests in 21-, 26-, and 43-Across? — Answer: LAWANDORDER. Hint: Think of both courtroom justice and a familiar police procedural title. ⚖️
  28. 53. Greek T — Answer: TAU. Hint: This Greek letter sounds like a famous Egyptian landmark’s name. 🏛️
  29. 56. Tofu nutrient — Answer: IRON. Hint: This mineral helps carry oxygen through the body and appears in soy foods. 💪
  30. 57. Drama honor — Answer: OBIE. Hint: This theater prize honors excellence in off-Broadway productions. 🎭
  31. 58. Feature of some accents — Answer: TWANG. Hint: A distinctive nasal or musical quality can make a regional voice stand out. 🗣️
  32. 60. Smoothie berry — Answer: ACAI. Hint: This small purple South American fruit often stars in chilled breakfast bowls. 🫐
  33. 61. Merino, e.g. — Answer: WOOL. Hint: Think of the soft fiber prized from a certain sheep breed. 🐑
  34. 62. "Pale Blue Dot" subject — Answer: EARTH. Hint: Carl Sagan famously described this world as a tiny speck in space. 🌍
  35. 63. Top of many an indoor stadium — Answer: DOME. Hint: A curved ceiling often caps a large sports venue. 🏟️
  36. 64. Trawling equipment — Answer: NETS. Hint: Fishermen drag these mesh barriers through the water to catch sea life. 🎣
  37. 65. Clothe — Answer: DRESS. Hint: To outfit someone is to do this. 👗

Down

  1. 1. Took care of, say — Answer: PAID. Hint: You may have done this after settling a bill or compensating someone. 💳
  2. 2. Circular current — Answer: EDDY. Hint: A whirlpool-like swirl in air or water has this name. 🌊
  3. 3. Shower with love, with "on" — Answer: DOTE. Hint: Pair a verb for loving attention with the word meaning activated. 💕
  4. 4. Old hoops gp. — Answer: ABA. Hint: This defunct basketball league once rivaled the NBA. 🏀
  5. 5. Daily record — Answer: LOGBOOK. Hint: It is where you chronicle each day's events. 📖
  6. 6. Causes of some grade inflation — Answer: EASYAS. Hint: Generous assignments can make top marks plentiful. 🎓
  7. 7. Beach party? — Answer: GULL. Hint: A feathered shoreline reveler might crash this gathering. 🐦
  8. 8. For two voices, in music — Answer: ADUE. Hint: This musical direction calls for two performers together. 🎶
  9. 9. Archaeologists' workplaces — Answer: DIGSITES. Hint: Researchers uncover the past at these excavated locations. ⛏️
  10. 10. Mardi Gras event — Answer: PARADE. Hint: Colorful floats and costumed crowds fill this celebration. 🎭
  11. 11. Video game brother — Answer: LUIGI. Hint: Mario's green-clad brother is the likely fellow. 🎮
  12. 12. Let out, as pigs — Answer: UNPEN. Hint: Release livestock from their enclosure with this action. 🐖
  13. 13. Try to decipher a stereogram, perhaps — Answer: STARE. Hint: A fixed gaze may reveal the hidden three-dimensional image. 👀
  14. 22. Have — Answer: OWN. Hint: To possess something is to do this. 🏠
  15. 23. Auction units — Answer: LOTS. Hint: Bidders compete for these grouped offerings. 🔨
  16. 24. Bullet point — Answer: ITEM. Hint: A single entry on a list fits this description. 📌
  17. 26. Bracket org. — Answer: NCAA. Hint: This college sports organization oversees many tournaments. 🏆
  18. 27. Messes up — Answer: ERRS. Hint: Anyone who makes mistakes occasionally does this. 😬
  19. 28. Ineffective — Answer: WEAK. Hint: Something lacking strength or impact can be described this way. 💨
  20. 29. Unwilling (to) — Answer: LOATH. Hint: Someone reluctant or disinclined is feeling this. 🙅
  21. 30. Branch — Answer: ARM. Hint: This can extend from either a tree or a person. 🌳
  22. 33. Ballad writer — Answer: POET. Hint: A creator of lyrical verse may fill this role. ✍️
  23. 34. Oak exterior — Answer: BARK. Hint: A tree's rough outer covering has this name. 🌲
  24. 35. Ocular woe — Answer: STYE. Hint: A small, painful eyelid bump can cause this irritating eye trouble. 👁️
  25. 37. __ service — Answer: TURNDOWN. Hint: Hotel staff provide this evening room-refreshing service. 🛏️
  26. 38. Medium ability — Answer: ESP. Hint: A psychic’s supposed sixth sense. 🔮
  27. 39. "Ta-ta!" — Answer: CIAO. Hint: A breezy way to say goodbye. 👋
  28. 41. Cutting comeback — Answer: BURN. Hint: A sharp retort that stings. 🔥
  29. 42. Toyed (with) — Answer: FLIRTED. Hint: Teased someone romantically without serious commitment. 😉
  30. 43. "Stop being such a jerk!" — Answer: MEANIE. Hint: A childish label for someone behaving nastily. 😠
  31. 44. Singing in some Ricola ads — Answer: YODELS. Hint: Performs the distinctive alpine vocal style heard in those commercials. 🏔️
  32. 45. Shakira's "__ Wolf" — Answer: SHE. Hint: Fill in the pronoun missing from this song title. 🎵
  33. 46. "Odyssey" prelude — Answer: ILIAD. Hint: This Homeric epic comes before its better-known sequel. 📜
  34. 47. Many a "Breaking Bad" figure — Answer: NARCO. Hint: A drug-world character is often described this way. 💊
  35. 48. Clock-changing hr. — Answer: TWOAM. Hint: This early-morning hour is commonly affected by the time change. ⏰
  36. 51. Cor anglais kin — Answer: OBOE. Hint: This woodwind relative has a clear, reedy voice. 🎶
  37. 52. Real hoot — Answer: RIOT. Hint: A person or event that is exceptionally funny. 😂
  38. 53. Scale button — Answer: TARE. Hint: Press it to zero out the container’s weight. ⚖️
  39. 54. Tunneling pests — Answer: ANTS. Hint: Tiny colony insects that may create underground passageways. 🐜
  40. 55. Cries of disgust — Answer: UGHS. Hint: Short exclamations made when something is especially gross. 🤢
  41. 59. Tug-of-__ — Answer: WAR. Hint: The classic rope-pulling contest. 🪢

Recent WaPo Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

WaPo Crossword 20 August 2026WaPo Crossword 19 August 2026WaPo Crossword 18 August 2026WaPo Crossword 17 August 2026WaPo Crossword 16 August 2026WaPo Crossword 15 August 2026WaPo Crossword 14 August 2026

Here are the Washington Post Crossword answers for Friday, August 21, 2026 — every solution for that day's 15×15 puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on August 21?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live Washington Post Crossword answers page.

Washington Post Crossword answers for August 21, 2026

The full solution for the August 21 Washington Post Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Friday, August 21.

Full WaPo Crossword answer list for August 21, 2026

Every clue from the August 21 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Graduate from a balance bikePEDAL
6"Zounds!"EGAD
10"Not only that ... "PLUS
14Sauce for chipotlesADOBO
15German automakerAUDI
16Nana's daughterAUNT
17Collar clip-onIDTAG
18Hard punchSLUG
19Big name in morning TVRIPA
20Get the gray out, sayDYE
21"A bottle where the rapid decrease in pressure upon opening creates foam, please" request?BOYLESLAGER
24Caitlin Clark's home stateIOWA
25Topical antisepticIODINE
26"A light coffee, and do not drop it, please" request?NEWTONSLATTE
31Small flower?CREEK
32Raw mineralsORES
33"Nature" airerPBS
36Biblical name of ancient SyriaARAM
37Wolverines and BadgersTEAMS
39Canada Goose garmentCOAT
40InquireASK
41Head of a museum?BUST
42Full of passionFIERY
43"I'll take my potato as a pancake (but you'll probably bring fries)" request?MURPHYSLATKE
46Future residentINTERN
49Cringeworthy, in Gen Alpha slangOHIO
50Strict enforcement of the rules for a civil society, or how to process the requests in 21-, 26-, and 43-Across?LAWANDORDER
53Greek TTAU
56Tofu nutrientIRON
57Drama honorOBIE
58Feature of some accentsTWANG
60Smoothie berryACAI
61Merino, e.g.WOOL
62"Pale Blue Dot" subjectEARTH
63Top of many an indoor stadiumDOME
64Trawling equipmentNETS
65ClotheDRESS

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Took care of, sayPAID
2Circular currentEDDY
3Shower with love, with "on"DOTE
4Old hoops gp.ABA
5Daily recordLOGBOOK
6Causes of some grade inflationEASYAS
7Beach party?GULL
8For two voices, in musicADUE
9Archaeologists' workplacesDIGSITES
10Mardi Gras eventPARADE
11Video game brotherLUIGI
12Let out, as pigsUNPEN
13Try to decipher a stereogram, perhapsSTARE
22HaveOWN
23Auction unitsLOTS
24Bullet pointITEM
26Bracket org.NCAA
27Messes upERRS
28IneffectiveWEAK
29Unwilling (to)LOATH
30BranchARM
33Ballad writerPOET
34Oak exteriorBARK
35Ocular woeSTYE
37__ serviceTURNDOWN
38Medium abilityESP
39"Ta-ta!"CIAO
41Cutting comebackBURN
42Toyed (with)FLIRTED
43"Stop being such a jerk!"MEANIE
44Singing in some Ricola adsYODELS
45Shakira's "__ Wolf"SHE
46"Odyssey" preludeILIAD
47Many a "Breaking Bad" figureNARCO
48Clock-changing hr.TWOAM
51Cor anglais kinOBOE
52Real hootRIOT
53Scale buttonTARE
54Tunneling pestsANTS
55Cries of disgustUGHS
59Tug-of-__WAR

Hints for the August 21 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 21 Washington Post Crossword was a classic Friday 15×15 — fair, conversational cluing with a theme that often unlocks several long answers at once. Use the hints for the trickiest corners, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

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Frequently asked questions

What were the Washington Post Crossword answers on August 21, 2026?

Every answer for the Friday, August 21, 2026 Washington Post Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

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