WaPo Crossword Answers Today
Saturday’s Daily
By Geoffrey Schorkopf & Rafael Musa · Edited by Patti Varol
Across
- 1Chance to refuel after a runAPRESSKI
- 13Contributes toGOESINON
- 15Mobile vendor?APPSTORE
- 16ExtravagantWANTON
- 17Chiang Mai residentsTHAIS
- 18Bath bomb componentEPSOMSALT
- 20Place that's all abuzzHIVE
- 21The Refined Feline purchase, perhapsCATTREE
- 22Did brunch, sayATE
- 24Vicuña kinALPACAS
- 29Spanish for "the gilded one"ELDORADO
- 30Pilots on the airSERIESPREMIERES
- 34Conflict involving customsTRADEWAR
- 35Y as in Yucatan?AND
- 36Japanese leaderEMPEROR
- 37On pointAPT
- 38Deg. from GoizuetaMBA
- 41Causes a scene?DIRECTS
- 43SnippyCURT
- 44Physical procedure?BLOODDRAW
- 47Husk-steamed fareTAMAL
- 48Freshens, in a wayREDOES
- 49New York universityCOLUMBIA
- 51SwearsAVERS
- 53TrashDISS
- 54High-minded oneIDEALIST
Down
- 1Name on a literary awardAGATHA
- 2Chart-topperPOPHIT
- 3Fix a lot, sayREPAVE
- 4Polish brandESSIE
- 5Takes a load offSITS
- 6__-CatSNO
- 8BumblingINEPT
- 9With a crispy crust, sayPANSEARED
- 12TiradeRANT
- 14Important part of a setGAMEPOINT
- 16Country homes?WORLDMAPS
- 19Played outSTALE
- 21SwearsCUSSWORDS
- 23Full scholarships, informallyFREERIDES
- 25Mercury or SaturnCAR
- 26Gator tail?ADE
- 27Short cry for helpSOS
- 28Means of indirect accessSIDEDOORS
- 29StrayERR
- 31Hesitant soundERM
- 33Knife block insertPARER
- 37"Oryx and Crake" novelistATWOOD
- 39Processing centers?BRAINS
- 40"About dang time!"ATLAST
- 44Slender fastenerBRAD
- 45Stubbs of the Four TopsLEVI
- 46Some Olds worksODES
- 47Polka hornTUBA
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Chance to refuel after a run — Answer: APRESSKI. Hint: A post-skiing opportunity to relax with food and drinks 🥂
- 9. Cruelty-free target of poaching — Answer: PEAR. Hint: This fruit can be picked without harming wildlife 🍐
- 13. Contributes to — Answer: GOESINON. Hint: Adds a detail or participant to something already underway ➕
- 14. Ncuti who plays the Fifteenth Doctor — Answer: GATWA. Hint: This actor took over the TARDIS in 2023 🚀
- 15. Mobile vendor? — Answer: APPSTORE. Hint: A marketplace for software on your phone 📱
- 16. Extravagant — Answer: WANTON. Hint: Over-the-top and unconstrained in spending or behavior 💃
- 17. Chiang Mai residents — Answer: THAIS. Hint: They hail from the nation whose capital is Bangkok 🇹🇭
- 18. Bath bomb component — Answer: EPSOMSALT. Hint: A mineral salt often dissolved in soothing baths 🛁
- 20. Place that's all abuzz — Answer: HIVE. Hint: A busy home for bees or a metaphorically bustling spot 🐝
- 21. The Refined Feline purchase, perhaps — Answer: CATTREE. Hint: A climbing playground that keeps an indoor pet entertained 🐈
- 22. Did brunch, say — Answer: ATE. Hint: Consumed a meal, perhaps between breakfast and dinner 🍽️
- 23. Like crosswords, hopefully — Answer: FUN. Hint: Enjoyable rather than a chore 😄
- 24. Vicuña kin — Answer: ALPACAS. Hint: South American pack animals prized for their soft fleece 🦙
- 28. Folks who are so last yr. — Answer: SRS. Hint: These people may be graduating and leaving the scene this year 🎓
- 29. Spanish for "the gilded one" — Answer: ELDORADO. Hint: A legendary city of immense golden wealth from Spanish lore ✨
- 30. Pilots on the air — Answer: SERIESPREMIERES. Hint: The debut episodes of new television shows 📺
- 34. Conflict involving customs — Answer: TRADEWAR. Hint: A tariff-fueled economic battle between nations 💰
- 35. Y as in Yucatan? — Answer: AND. Hint: A connector that can link two things together 🤝
- 36. Japanese leader — Answer: EMPEROR. Hint: Japan's ceremonial head of state, traditionally from an ancient dynasty 👑
- 37. On point — Answer: APT. Hint: Precisely suitable or relevant to the matter at hand 🎯
- 38. Deg. from Goizueta — Answer: MBA. Hint: It’s the classic graduate credential for future business leaders 🎓
- 41. Causes a scene? — Answer: DIRECTS. Hint: A filmmaker does this by guiding the action 🎬
- 43. Snippy — Answer: CURT. Hint: Brief and brusque describes this tone 😏
- 44. Physical procedure? — Answer: BLOODDRAW. Hint: This procedure involves taking a sample from your veins 🩸
- 47. Husk-steamed fare — Answer: TAMAL. Hint: This Latin American favorite is filled, wrapped in a husk, and steamed 🌽
- 48. Freshens, in a way — Answer: REDOES. Hint: Gives something another pass to make it feel new again ✨
- 49. New York university — Answer: COLUMBIA. Hint: The Ivy League school in Morningside Heights fits here 🎓
- 51. Swears — Answer: AVERS. Hint: States firmly or declares under oath ⚖️
- 52. Cutesy name for the squishy parts of a paw — Answer: TOEBEANS. Hint: A playful pet-parent term for the soft pads beneath a cat’s toes 🐾
- 53. Trash — Answer: DISS. Hint: To insult or put someone down casually 😈
- 54. High-minded one — Answer: IDEALIST. Hint: Someone guided more by principles than practicality 🌟
Down
- 1. Name on a literary award — Answer: AGATHA. Hint: This first name belongs to Christie, namesake of a mystery-writing prize 🕵️
- 2. Chart-topper — Answer: POPHIT. Hint: A catchy song that climbs the music rankings 🎶
- 3. Fix a lot, say — Answer: REPAVE. Hint: Overhauling a worn roadway is one way to do this 🚧
- 4. Polish brand — Answer: ESSIE. Hint: This manicure brand comes in tiny bottles of colorful lacquer 💅
- 5. Takes a load off — Answer: SITS. Hint: Rests on a chair instead of remaining on your feet 🪑
- 6. __-Cat — Answer: SNO. Hint: Complete the name of the compact snow vehicle ❄️
- 7. Like gochujang and jjimjilbang — Answer: KOREAN. Hint: Gochujang and jjimjilbang are both associated with this country and culture 🌶️
- 8. Bumbling — Answer: INEPT. Hint: It describes someone awkward and unskilled 🤹
- 9. With a crispy crust, say — Answer: PANSEARED. Hint: Cooked in a hot skillet until the outside browns and crackles 🍳
- 10. Piedmont blues guitarist Baker — Answer: ETTA. Hint: The guitarist Baker had this classic feminine first name 🎸
- 11. Unaccounted for, for short — Answer: AWOL. Hint: This military shorthand describes someone missing from duty. 🪖
- 12. Tirade — Answer: RANT. Hint: A heated verbal outburst fits this description. 🗯️
- 14. Important part of a set — Answer: GAMEPOINT. Hint: In tennis, this score can decide the entire set. 🎾
- 16. Country homes? — Answer: WORLDMAPS. Hint: Think of places where countries are represented rather than residences. 🗺️
- 19. Played out — Answer: STALE. Hint: Something no longer fresh or original may be described this way. 🥱
- 21. Swears — Answer: CUSSWORDS. Hint: These are profane expressions. 🤬
- 23. Full scholarships, informally — Answer: FREERIDES. Hint: Students receiving this aid attend college without paying tuition. 🎓
- 25. Mercury or Saturn — Answer: CAR. Hint: Either could be spotted in a driveway, despite sounding astronomical. 🚗
- 26. Gator tail? — Answer: ADE. Hint: Think of the ending of a familiar electrolyte drink’s name. 🥤
- 27. Short cry for help — Answer: SOS. Hint: This universally recognized distress signal is very brief. 🆘
- 28. Means of indirect access — Answer: SIDEDOORS. Hint: A less direct route into a building or system fits here. 🚪
- 29. Stray — Answer: ERR. Hint: To make a mistake is to do this. 🤦
- 30. Femme canonisée: Abbr. — Answer: STE. Hint: This French abbreviation denotes a canonized woman. ⛪
- 31. Hesitant sound — Answer: ERM. Hint: A filler utterance can buy time while searching for what to say. 🤔
- 32. Art form that originated in the Bronx — Answer: RAP. Hint: This rhythmic music emerged from New York City’s Bronx. 🎤
- 33. Knife block insert — Answer: PARER. Hint: This small blade is designed for peeling or trimming produce. 🔪
- 37. "Oryx and Crake" novelist — Answer: ATWOOD. Hint: This Canadian author wrote the dystopian novel in question. 📚
- 38. Capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra — Answer: MUMBAI. Hint: This bustling metropolis sits on India’s western coast. 🌆
- 39. Processing centers? — Answer: BRAINS. Hint: These process information inside your head. 🧠
- 40. "About dang time!" — Answer: ATLAST. Hint: A relieved exclamation when something finally happens. 🎉
- 42. Sustainable landscaping options — Answer: CACTI. Hint: These hardy desert plants need very little water. 🌵
- 43. __ Up: board game with a desert motif — Answer: CAMEL. Hint: Complete the title with the animal famous for crossing sandy terrain. 🐪
- 44. Slender fastener — Answer: BRAD. Hint: This small nail is commonly used in light woodworking. 🔨
- 45. Stubbs of the Four Tops — Answer: LEVI. Hint: Recall the first name of the Four Tops vocalist. 🎤
- 46. Some Olds works — Answer: ODES. Hint: These lyrical poems are often dedicated to a person or thing. 📜
- 47. Polka horn — Answer: TUBA. Hint: This large brass instrument supplies the low notes in a polka band. 🎺
- 50. Suni honored with the Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award in 2025 — Answer: LEE. Hint: Think of the celebrated gymnast whose return to competition made headlines. 🏅
Recent WaPo Crossword Answers
The last 7 days of solutions
Looking for today's Washington Post Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated August 29, 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
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chance to refuel after a run | APRESSKI |
| 9 | Cruelty-free target of poaching | PEAR |
| 13 | Contributes to | GOESINON |
| 14 | Ncuti who plays the Fifteenth Doctor | GATWA |
| 15 | Mobile vendor? | APPSTORE |
| 16 | Extravagant | WANTON |
| 17 | Chiang Mai residents | THAIS |
| 18 | Bath bomb component | EPSOMSALT |
| 20 | Place that's all abuzz | HIVE |
| 21 | The Refined Feline purchase, perhaps | CATTREE |
| 22 | Did brunch, say | ATE |
| 23 | Like crosswords, hopefully | FUN |
| 24 | Vicuña kin | ALPACAS |
| 28 | Folks who are so last yr. | SRS |
| 29 | Spanish for "the gilded one" | ELDORADO |
| 30 | Pilots on the air | SERIESPREMIERES |
| 34 | Conflict involving customs | TRADEWAR |
| 35 | Y as in Yucatan? | AND |
| 36 | Japanese leader | EMPEROR |
| 37 | On point | APT |
| 38 | Deg. from Goizueta | MBA |
| 41 | Causes a scene? | DIRECTS |
| 43 | Snippy | CURT |
| 44 | Physical procedure? | BLOODDRAW |
| 47 | Husk-steamed fare | TAMAL |
| 48 | Freshens, in a way | REDOES |
| 49 | New York university | COLUMBIA |
| 51 | Swears | AVERS |
| 52 | Cutesy name for the squishy parts of a paw | TOEBEANS |
| 53 | Trash | DISS |
| 54 | High-minded one | IDEALIST |
Down
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:
| WaPo | NYT (main) | LA Times | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid size | 15×15 (larger Sunday) | 15×15 (21×21 Sunday) | 15×15 (larger Sunday) |
| Difficulty | Accessible, fair | Ramps to a hard Saturday | Accessible, smooth |
| Cost | Free online | Games subscription | Free online |
| Clue style | Conversational themes | Heavy wordplay, misdirection | Fair, 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 29, 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.



