WSJ Crossword Answers - Aug 25

Joking Kind

By Daniel Hrynick · Edited by Mike Shenk

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Across

  1. 1Friday’s lead-in?TGI
  2. 4Word after black, covert or photoOPS
  3. 7Intimidating wordsTHREAT
  4. 13Hawaiian pizza toppingHAM
  5. 14Seltos sellerKIA
  6. 15Significant capitalWEALTH
  7. 16Gracefully stylishELEGANT
  8. 18A bit more than 2,000 yardsSEAMILE
  9. 19Three-time Emmy Awards host with four EmmysJIMMYKIMMEL
  10. 21Thing that a soda can, a web browser or a bar patron hasTAB
  11. 22Inventor HoweELIAS
  12. 23Blitzen strapREIN
  13. 24Chalice contentsWINE
  14. 25Camper shelterTENT
  15. 26Subscription levelTIER
  16. 27Butterflies in the kitchen, e.g.PASTA
  17. 28Match at the poker tableSEE
  18. 29Tony Randall’s “The Odd Couple” co-starJACKKLUGMAN
  19. 31Soul jazz pianist/singer McCannLES
  20. 32Burning feelingIRE
  21. 33“Rhoda” co-star who voices Marge SimpsonJULIEKAVNER
  22. 39CD-___ROM
  23. 42It’s not a good lookSNEER
  24. 43Where Homer downs DuffsMOES
  25. 44Hand, on a haciendaMANO
  26. 45Ballerina’s garbTUTU
  27. 461 on the Mohs scaleTALC
  28. 47Off the plate, perhapsEATEN
  29. 48Blog feed lettersRSS
  30. 49“Psych!” (or what the initials of three funny people in this puzzle mean, fittingly)JUSTKIDDING
  31. 51They’re well-grounded (one hopes!)OUTLETS
  32. 53What an unwelcome guest might be shownTHEDOOR
  33. 54Dojo doingsKARATE
  34. 55Charged particleION
  35. 56Busy season on la Côte d’AzurETE
  36. 57Paris’s ___ PalaceELYSEE
  37. 58They spin longer than singlesEPS
  38. 59Costa ___ SolDEL

Down

  1. 1Bennie’s backup singers, in an Elton John songTHEJETS
  2. 2Biblical land west of the River JordanGALILEE
  3. 3Self-ish George Harrison songIMEMINE
  4. 4ApprovesOKAYS
  5. 5Pepto-Bismol huePINK
  6. 6Like the Onion’s journalismSATIRIC
  7. 7Sixth-grader, typicallyTWEEN
  8. 8RecuperateHEAL
  9. 9Zodiac animalRAM
  10. 10Snobby attitudeELITISM
  11. 11Hawks’ homeATLANTA
  12. 12Chicago’s “Cloud Gate” sculpture, familiarlyTHEBEAN
  13. 17Hurdle for a would-be M.B.A.GMAT
  14. 18Condescending lookSMIRK
  15. 20MousyMEEK
  16. 24Hourly rateWAGE
  17. 26Job to doTASK
  18. 27Contented rumblePURR
  19. 29HeckleJEER
  20. 30Many campaign promisesLIES
  21. 31SteadLIEU
  22. 33Basic canoeing techniqueJSTROKE
  23. 34OddUNUSUAL
  24. 35“Why don’t we give it a shot?”LETSTRY
  25. 36GatherAMASS
  26. 37Charger unitVOLT
  27. 38Suit supplementNECKTIE
  28. 39Like a post with vastly more critical comments than likes or sharesRATIOED
  29. 40Lacking in varietyONENOTE
  30. 41Kennel club rejectMONGREL
  31. 44Org. that makes PSAs for safe rides homeMADD
  32. 46Student in a class of her own?TUTEE
  33. 47Utopian settingsEDENS
  34. 49Juilliard jumpJETE
  35. 50Seller of Cinn-A-Stack pancakesIHOP
  36. 52___ VegasLAS

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Friday’s lead-in? — Answer: TGI. Hint: Think of the familiar expression celebrating the end of the workweek. 🎉
  2. 4. Word after black, covert or photo — Answer: OPS. Hint: This short word can follow each term to suggest operations. 🕵️
  3. 7. Intimidating words — Answer: THREAT. Hint: These menacing words are meant to scare or pressure someone. 😠
  4. 13. Hawaiian pizza topping — Answer: HAM. Hint: This savory pork topping shares the pie with pineapple. 🍕
  5. 14. Seltos seller — Answer: KIA. Hint: This South Korean automaker makes that compact SUV. 🚗
  6. 15. Significant capital — Answer: WEALTH. Hint: A substantial store of money or assets fits this description. 💰
  7. 16. Gracefully stylish — Answer: ELEGANT. Hint: Something refined, tasteful, and lovely may be described this way. ✨
  8. 18. A bit more than 2,000 yards — Answer: SEAMILE. Hint: This nautical distance is slightly longer than a land mile. ⚓
  9. 19. Three-time Emmy Awards host with four Emmys — Answer: JIMMYKIMMEL. Hint: Think of the late-night comedian who has hosted television’s top awards ceremony three times. 📺
  10. 21. Thing that a soda can, a web browser or a bar patron has — Answer: TAB. Hint: It may be a pull on a can, an open page, or a running drink bill. 🥤
  11. 22. Inventor Howe — Answer: ELIAS. Hint: This inventor is credited with an important nineteenth-century sewing machine design. 🧵
  12. 23. Blitzen strap — Answer: REIN. Hint: A driver uses this leather control to guide a reindeer. 🦌
  13. 24. Chalice contents — Answer: WINE. Hint: A ceremonial cup might hold this drink. 🍷
  14. 25. Camper shelter — Answer: TENT. Hint: A portable fabric home makes a cozy campsite refuge. ⛺
  15. 26. Subscription level — Answer: TIER. Hint: Streaming and membership plans are often organized into one of these ranks. 📶
  16. 27. Butterflies in the kitchen, e.g. — Answer: PASTA. Hint: These flutter-shaped noodles are a whimsical pantry example. 🦋
  17. 28. Match at the poker table — Answer: SEE. Hint: To meet a wager, a player can choose this action. ♠️
  18. 29. Tony Randall’s “The Odd Couple” co-star — Answer: JACKKLUGMAN. Hint: He played the famously messy roommate opposite the fastidious Felix. 🎭
  19. 31. Soul jazz pianist/singer McCann — Answer: LES. Hint: This musician was known for soulful keyboard playing and vocals. 🎹
  20. 32. Burning feeling — Answer: IRE. Hint: This intense feeling can flare when someone is wronged. 🔥
  21. 33. “Rhoda” co-star who voices Marge Simpson — Answer: JULIEKAVNER. Hint: This actress is famous for voicing Springfield’s iconic blue-haired mother. 🎙️
  22. 39. CD-___ — Answer: ROM. Hint: Complete this term for a read-only optical disc. 💿
  23. 42. It’s not a good look — Answer: SNEER. Hint: A contemptuous facial expression rarely wins friends. 😏
  24. 43. Where Homer downs Duffs — Answer: MOES. Hint: Homer’s favorite Springfield watering hole serves his beloved beer. 🍺
  25. 44. Hand, on a hacienda — Answer: MANO. Hint: Use this Spanish word when referring to a hand. ✋
  26. 45. Ballerina’s garb — Answer: TUTU. Hint: This short, stiff skirt is a ballet staple. 🩰
  27. 46. 1 on the Mohs scale — Answer: TALC. Hint: This very soft mineral sits at the gentlest end of the hardness scale. 🪨
  28. 47. Off the plate, perhaps — Answer: EATEN. Hint: A meal may be in this state after dinner. 🍽️
  29. 48. Blog feed letters — Answer: RSS. Hint: It’s the standard way to subscribe to updates from a blog. 📰
  30. 49. “Psych!” (or what the initials of three funny people in this puzzle mean, fittingly) — Answer: JUSTKIDDING. Hint: These words quickly signal that a teasing remark was not serious. 😄
  31. 51. They’re well-grounded (one hopes!) — Answer: OUTLETS. Hint: You plug appliances into these, ideally with proper electrical grounding. 🔌
  32. 53. What an unwelcome guest might be shown — Answer: THEDOOR. Hint: An unwanted visitor may receive this pointed invitation to leave. 🚪
  33. 54. Dojo doings — Answer: KARATE. Hint: These martial-arts moves might be practiced in a dojo. 🥋
  34. 55. Charged particle — Answer: ION. Hint: Think of an atom or molecule carrying an electric charge. ⚡
  35. 56. Busy season on la Côte d’Azur — Answer: ETE. Hint: Tourists flock to the French Riviera during this season. ☀️
  36. 57. Paris’s ___ Palace — Answer: ELYSEE. Hint: This Parisian palace is the official residence of France’s president. 🏛️
  37. 58. They spin longer than singles — Answer: EPS. Hint: These musical releases contain more tracks than a standard single but fewer than an album. 🎶
  38. 59. Costa ___ Sol — Answer: DEL. Hint: Complete this Spanish resort coast’s name with a phrase meaning “of the.” 🌊

Down

  1. 1. Bennie’s backup singers, in an Elton John song — Answer: THEJETS. Hint: Elton’s backing vocal group shares its name with aircraft. ✈️
  2. 2. Biblical land west of the River Jordan — Answer: GALILEE. Hint: This biblical region surrounds a famous freshwater lake. 🌅
  3. 3. Self-ish George Harrison song — Answer: IMEMINE. Hint: This reflective title repeats a pair of first-person pronouns. 🎵
  4. 4. Approves — Answer: OKAYS. Hint: Gives the green light to a proposal 👍
  5. 5. Pepto-Bismol hue — Answer: PINK. Hint: This familiar stomach remedy comes in a rosy shade 🌸
  6. 6. Like the Onion’s journalism — Answer: SATIRIC. Hint: Uses humor and exaggeration to poke fun at reality 📰
  7. 7. Sixth-grader, typically — Answer: TWEEN. Hint: Falls between childhood and the teenage years 🎒
  8. 8. Recuperate — Answer: HEAL. Hint: Get better after an illness or injury 💪
  9. 9. Zodiac animal — Answer: RAM. Hint: Think of the horned creature associated with the first sign of the zodiac ♈
  10. 10. Snobby attitude — Answer: ELITISM. Hint: A belief that certain people are superior to others 🎩
  11. 11. Hawks’ home — Answer: ATLANTA. Hint: This Georgia city hosts the basketball team 🏀
  12. 12. Chicago’s “Cloud Gate” sculpture, familiarly — Answer: THEBEAN. Hint: A shiny, bean-shaped landmark reflects the city skyline 🪞
  13. 17. Hurdle for a would-be M.B.A. — Answer: GMAT. Hint: This standardized test can be part of business-school admission 📚
  14. 18. Condescending look — Answer: SMIRK. Hint: A self-satisfied expression can make someone seem superior 😏
  15. 20. Mousy — Answer: MEEK. Hint: Quiet, timid, and unlikely to make a fuss 🐭
  16. 24. Hourly rate — Answer: WAGE. Hint: What a worker earns for each hour on the job 💵
  17. 26. Job to do — Answer: TASK. Hint: A specific piece of work that needs completing ✅
  18. 27. Contented rumble — Answer: PURR. Hint: The soothing sound a happy cat makes 🐈
  19. 29. Heckle — Answer: JEER. Hint: Taunt a performer or speaker from the audience 📣
  20. 30. Many campaign promises — Answer: LIES. Hint: Cynical voters may doubt these political pledges 🤥
  21. 31. Stead — Answer: LIEU. Hint: A formal word meaning in place of something else 🔄
  22. 33. Basic canoeing technique — Answer: JSTROKE. Hint: A paddle maneuver that helps keep the canoe traveling straight 🛶
  23. 34. Odd — Answer: UNUSUAL. Hint: Different from what is normal or expected 🧐
  24. 35. “Why don’t we give it a shot?” — Answer: LETSTRY. Hint: An encouraging phrase suggesting an attempt 🚀
  25. 36. Gather — Answer: AMASS. Hint: Bring a large amount together in one place. 📚
  26. 37. Charger unit — Answer: VOLT. Hint: Think of the electrical measure associated with pushing charge through a circuit. ⚡
  27. 38. Suit supplement — Answer: NECKTIE. Hint: This formal accessory adds a polished finish to a business outfit. 👔
  28. 39. Like a post with vastly more critical comments than likes or shares — Answer: RATIOED. Hint: On social media, this describes a post whose replies overwhelm its positive reactions. 📱
  29. 40. Lacking in variety — Answer: ONENOTE. Hint: Something with only one style or tone could be described this way. 🎵
  30. 41. Kennel club reject — Answer: MONGREL. Hint: A dog of mixed ancestry may not fit a strict breed registry. 🐕
  31. 44. Org. that makes PSAs for safe rides home — Answer: MADD. Hint: This advocacy group campaigns against driving under the influence. 🚗
  32. 46. Student in a class of her own? — Answer: TUTEE. Hint: She may be receiving individual instruction from a private teacher. 📚
  33. 47. Utopian settings — Answer: EDENS. Hint: Picture idyllic paradises free from ordinary troubles. 🌺
  34. 49. Juilliard jump — Answer: JETE. Hint: In ballet, this is a leap performed with one leg extended. 🩰
  35. 50. Seller of Cinn-A-Stack pancakes — Answer: IHOP. Hint: Look for the restaurant chain famous for stacks of breakfast flapjacks. 🥞
  36. 52. ___ Vegas — Answer: LAS. Hint: Think of the Spanish word meaning “the” that commonly precedes this famous gambling city 🎰

Recent WSJ Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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Here are the WSJ Crossword answers for Tuesday, August 25, 2026 — every solution for that day's Wall Street Journal 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 25?” 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 WSJ Crossword answers page.

WSJ Crossword answers for August 25, 2026

The full solution for the August 25 WSJ 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 Tuesday, August 25.

Full WSJ Crossword answer list for August 25, 2026

Every clue from the August 25 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Friday’s lead-in?TGI
4Word after black, covert or photoOPS
7Intimidating wordsTHREAT
13Hawaiian pizza toppingHAM
14Seltos sellerKIA
15Significant capitalWEALTH
16Gracefully stylishELEGANT
18A bit more than 2,000 yardsSEAMILE
19Three-time Emmy Awards host with four EmmysJIMMYKIMMEL
21Thing that a soda can, a web browser or a bar patron hasTAB
22Inventor HoweELIAS
23Blitzen strapREIN
24Chalice contentsWINE
25Camper shelterTENT
26Subscription levelTIER
27Butterflies in the kitchen, e.g.PASTA
28Match at the poker tableSEE
29Tony Randall’s “The Odd Couple” co-starJACKKLUGMAN
31Soul jazz pianist/singer McCannLES
32Burning feelingIRE
33“Rhoda” co-star who voices Marge SimpsonJULIEKAVNER
39CD-___ROM
42It’s not a good lookSNEER
43Where Homer downs DuffsMOES
44Hand, on a haciendaMANO
45Ballerina’s garbTUTU
461 on the Mohs scaleTALC
47Off the plate, perhapsEATEN
48Blog feed lettersRSS
49“Psych!” (or what the initials of three funny people in this puzzle mean, fittingly)JUSTKIDDING
51They’re well-grounded (one hopes!)OUTLETS
53What an unwelcome guest might be shownTHEDOOR
54Dojo doingsKARATE
55Charged particleION
56Busy season on la Côte d’AzurETE
57Paris’s ___ PalaceELYSEE
58They spin longer than singlesEPS
59Costa ___ SolDEL

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Bennie’s backup singers, in an Elton John songTHEJETS
2Biblical land west of the River JordanGALILEE
3Self-ish George Harrison songIMEMINE
4ApprovesOKAYS
5Pepto-Bismol huePINK
6Like the Onion’s journalismSATIRIC
7Sixth-grader, typicallyTWEEN
8RecuperateHEAL
9Zodiac animalRAM
10Snobby attitudeELITISM
11Hawks’ homeATLANTA
12Chicago’s “Cloud Gate” sculpture, familiarlyTHEBEAN
17Hurdle for a would-be M.B.A.GMAT
18Condescending lookSMIRK
20MousyMEEK
24Hourly rateWAGE
26Job to doTASK
27Contented rumblePURR
29HeckleJEER
30Many campaign promisesLIES
31SteadLIEU
33Basic canoeing techniqueJSTROKE
34OddUNUSUAL
35“Why don’t we give it a shot?”LETSTRY
36GatherAMASS
37Charger unitVOLT
38Suit supplementNECKTIE
39Like a post with vastly more critical comments than likes or sharesRATIOED
40Lacking in varietyONENOTE
41Kennel club rejectMONGREL
44Org. that makes PSAs for safe rides homeMADD
46Student in a class of her own?TUTEE
47Utopian settingsEDENS
49Juilliard jumpJETE
50Seller of Cinn-A-Stack pancakesIHOP
52___ VegasLAS

Hints for the August 25 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 25 Wall Street Journal Crossword was a Tuesday puzzle, which matters more than it does at most papers: the WSJ runs a clean 15×15 midweek, a larger themed grid at the end of the week, and a Friday contest puzzle whose real answer hides inside the finished grid. Editor Mike Shenk keeps the cluing fair rather than punishing, so a stuck corner usually breaks open on one confirmed crossing. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

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Every answer for the Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Wall Street Journal Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

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