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Puzzles for August, 2026
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (4)Editor (5)Jim Horne (21)Hide comments
Sat 8/1/2026
TRASHTALKAPBS
VAGUEIDEASBALI
DIADELOSMUERTOS
ANTSSUSANLUCCI
DYEMITESKPH
DOTNUTTWIN
RCCARASTRONOMY
IRANIANRIVERAS
GARGANTUAASKME
APSEYETORS
HRTDISHYCOT
AMAZEBALLSGABE
CORONATIONROBES
MIENMETPAYROLL
ELSEDYSPEPSIA

The most famous appearance of LUCCI in a grid is from 2001 after a beloved long-time runner up at the American Crossword Tournament finally won. Read the top and bottom lines here.

Sun 8/2/2026 Going for a Spin
BICSARITAGSCARPS
MENUTIERWRAPALERTS
OFFROADVEHICLEREVERE
TOLLFREEATHLETESFEN
TRUSTRAMSADOSBEAD
SEXTARSUSNEWSHOCKS
MISSEDETREARTS
LOWEMISSIONSSLATE
ORATESNEEDREDACT
VANESSCAMPIMACSNOR
ENTSBUCKETSEATSNODE
IGOFARSIUPSETFEIGN
TENDONNANAIRONED
RISESKEYLESSENTRY
THISVISAOVULES
QUIETRIDEPRIMALSIM
URLSICEEPHILOMANI
AFLACTTHREEDEBACLES
SWATCHREARWHEELDRIVE
HARAREIRISMALEAVER
RYDERPELESDSUEAR
Mon 8/3/2026
COSTSNAILAREA
ODORTEDDYPUMP
MIDIABASEINCA
BEACHBUMPETER
YELLCROCHET
ICECREAMMAKER
AISLEOOZEOAF
MATEMILNEHURL
BOABETABUGLE
TRUECRIMESHOW
STEALTHMALT
LASIKCHILLING
ETASBLOODEVER
PELEAGAMERARE
TRESEATENSNOW

Terrific clues today, especially for a Monday:

XWord Info sometimes has BETA features, and I believe Trump, not unlike NERO, has won every game of golf.

Tue 8/4/2026
MITTSLIMESSKA
ACERCOMBATWAD
SARINOTSARIOLD
SNIPERSLYRES
LLCBALEEN
DELHIPLATTERS
ONUSGAUNTNOW
HEMAYNMAOEVA
ORBREIGNAMEN
HOLIMATRIMONY
ETCHERORG
YADDACREEPIN
UFONAANAPOLOGY
MARDANISHIPOS
AREYACHTSCORE

Indian wedding puns!

Wed 8/5/2026
CHARTTOPPER
LEADINGNOWHERE
ARIZONAICEDTEA
PAGERANKS
CARDCASE
HEADMASSAGES
CARBONSTORAGE
WESTERNSAHARA
INTERNETBOTS
GOESBUST
FIRSTMATE
BOOLEANALGEBRA
INDIANAHOOSIER
COUNTSNOSES

"Temple services" for HEAD MASSAGES is brilliant.

Thu 8/6/2026
TONIICEDEDDIE
ANONSAMEGROOM
JAICANRUMGAUNT
RISOTTOPRIG
TRYMELEBRONJES
MARCOOLHAL
SESAMEHOTLANTA
CLANTHOSEHUMP
RENDEREDSPITES
ANDMIROTAG
PAJAPARTYROIDS
WILLELMTREE
PRIMOJAMPACKED
DICEYONEGHERA
ACHESETNAADEN

JAM is packed into three down answers, as it would be packed into the middle of the food items.

Fri 8/7/2026
STRESSBALLAFEW
IHADNOIDEARAVI
CATSOUTOFTHEBAG
SISWRISTOWENS
SCOTTASER
PECANBUSTAGUT
TRAITPORKTEVA
NERFTOONSHEEL
UGLIAWESBIGAL
TOYMAKERSONGS
ROVERBERG
OLIVEGRIDSNYC
MUSICPRODUCTION
ICEEGATECHANGE
TARSABITETOEAT
Sat 8/8/2026
TOSSSARICBS
HOOTSHEMANDHAW
ALFREERICCARLE
WATERSLIDEPILE
SLEEVELESSTSET
ANTIRUSTRETRY
STEEVEDAVIS
ETNAMAGI
RIATAFINITE
GETMELENSCAPS
AAHSPANAKOPITA
BREAHYDROMETER
BELLEAMIEIRONS
ENPASSANTCOMTE
RDSPENGNESS
Sun 8/9/2026 Freestyle Exercise
ATALLHEISTSFLUAXIS
COMEONINTHEWATERSFINE
CONGRESSIONALDISTRICT
OCEANUSSWAMPDAYO
ROSTERUNUMHOEEMAIL
DOTEONTOPDAUNTANNE
SLYSLEETDEBTHINTAT
BOONSLIFESPANCHI
LODGEHAVETHINGSOUT
TODAYMOVEASONENLRB
ROTISTONISTONEMOORE
IMINPALESTINETAWNY
TONGUELASHINGCOVEY
URLBEESTINGDOMED
ARISENSANGGROANSIP
LOFTSHENGWRISTMINE
SWEEPUSSIHOPISOLDE
POOLWARIOFLAREUP
CORPORATESURVEILLANCE
INVERTEDROLLERCOASTER
SASSODSFESSESTSARS

Read about Toni Stone on Wikipedia.

Caitlin Lovinger over on Wordplay wondered if this was the first-ever Sunday grid with two double grid-spanning stacks. It is the first since 1990. The only one before that was in 1953. Both of those managed the feat in 23x23 grids.

See more notable Sunday spanners by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

Mon 8/10/2026
APESSLATENJOY
MAXIAIMSGEODE
OPEDSTEPBYSTEP
RICECHEXUPS
BAAHOTPAN
PLAYBYPLAYCANE
LASSOHAZEANTS
UGLISOSADSILT
CUEDUBERRENEE
KNEEBIRDBYBIRD
YAPETALAY
ALLLAUNCHED
FOURBYFOURAURA
LARGOISNTSLAM
YKNOWNETSEASE

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.

Now I have Side by Side by Sondheim stuck in my head.

Tue 8/11/2026
IPADSSYSCOESC
NOTUPAOKAYVIA
FLAMINGLIPSIAM
OLDPROOPSELMO
LEAKIDLE
ANTIHANSZIMMER
LAWNSRITESPIE
LUIGIMAACHIDE
ORSGAILYSORES
WUTANGCLANMERE
ELSETAKE
DAREDOIRUBIES
RUMSONGDYNASTY
IRAOUTERISLAM
PATSTORESEALS
Wed 8/12/2026
TAGSTREBLEDMS
OTRAHARROWAYE
GOOGLEDRIVENBA
AMIGOONESCAM
NETWORKSPEEDS
DREWARO
CISALECRIFTS
INTERNETTRAFFIC
ANORATAROSKI
RUGLAMA
COMPUTERCRASH
LUSTHAIICARE
ANOSERVERDELAY
ICUORNATENOSE
METWESLEYTSPS
Thu 8/13/2026
ZAGBEEPPARIAH
IMOOKRARICOLA
LOBSTERSORATED
CREPTSTUMPAVE
HERALDESPOUSES
STEAMETDS
PIESTALLSABER
BRRSAXLESFAVA
JAKOBIMSADNEW
FARMSPEND
AQUARIUMSNOWED
BUNROMANSOARE
BOBCATSIZINGUP
ORANGEKNITOPT
TANNEDSONYNTH
Clued phrase Grid entry Size change
MOBSTERS ("Mafia members") LOBSTERS M → L
EX-SPOUSES ("Alimony recipients") ESPOUSES XS → S
ALES ("Drinks at a pub") AXLES L → XL
AQUARIUS ("11th of a noted 12") AQUARIUM S → M

Note: PI Day (3/14) comes just before the Ides of March (3/15).

Fri 8/14/2026
GIZASNIFFSOUT
IMONAYCARAMBA
NEONBREAKUPSEX
SAMURAIRIC
UNFAIRRENTACOP
CALORIEGOLOCO
COTSETCHSINCE
AMIINCLOSEFAM
SEGERHUSHSAMS
COUSINSEALABS
ANECDOTELEMURS
ERRGOSPLAT
THATSMYJAMLAZE
RAPACIOUSETON
UMPTEENTHSERT

Breakup sex! Maleska would be so jealous that Shortz can get away with entries like this.

Sat 8/15/2026
DAWNEDTVACTORS
REHIREHISTORIC
OSAKANENTREATY
POTSETSAILJUL
SPAMBRUINPEAL
HIPAAENGHOLLA
ICANTHEARYOU
PALATECLEANSERS
TEXASTWOSTEP
ARMEDNOTRICCI
LOBEPORESNELL
BOACAPISCETIL
EMPHASISATHENA
REPARTEELAUREN
TRESPASSPLEASE
Sun 8/16/2026 Take the Edge Off
LOLITASINTHEMLAME
ATONOFEMUSROLOTRAP
DOCTORSWITHOUTBORDERS
SHOOKPENOPERATETIO
NAIADERATOSLOAN
NEEDSNOINTRODUCTION
FOSSILNODATPASO
LIPPALNOGPLODNIGH
URNSNEVERENDINGSTORY
PODIASEALELATED
BICEPSLABTSKSIMAGE
ASLEEPIDIGITSME
HEADLESSHORSEMANROTE
TENDSHEDETCRATDIY
ASTIRAYONPUDDLE
NOTCOMPLETELYHONEST
SANERREADSGONGS
OREATPEACESIRSEEUP
UNLIMITEDTALKANDTEXTS
TIEDRANTLOINWEDGES
HAGSESSOTNTINSIST
Altered clue Restored form Theme answer Mechanism
_ATSO_ and _EKYL_ Watson and Jekyll DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS Two doctors with both outer letters removed
_RAVES CRAVES NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION "Craves" means needs, minus its introductory letter
SAG_ SAGA NEVER-ENDING STORY A story with no ending letter
_NIGHT KNIGHT HEADLESS HORSEMAN A mounted knight without its head letter
FRAN_ FRANK NOT COMPLETELY HONEST Frank means honest, but is incomplete
_IALO_ DIALOG UNLIMITED TALK AND TEXTS Dialog stripped of its limiting letters
Mon 8/17/2026
LIMEMUSTPLOT
IMAMANTEPAOLO
DAPPERDANINUIT
SCORPIONACTIVE
EINKPHHEED
KISSCAMEASEL
ISISRIOTTROLL
NETJAMJARSUAE
GEESEOSLOMINT
VOTESSCREEDS
SNITNATKOA
NOSHEDHABANERO
OBIESYESANDYES
RETROATTNERAS
ELSEMAIDREDO

For some reason, Louie Louie is played at every Seattle Mariners home game. They don't make music like this anymore.

The story of the song is fascinating.

Tue 8/18/2026
HELPURIAHDENS
ALOENASTYISAW
MOONLIGHTSONATA
SECATFAULT
AMADEUSEUR
CITYOFSTARSABS
OLDENMOVIECLIP
RIANDARIAALTA
NEWSMEDIAORDER
SUNSWEETDREAMS
DNDSEESYEE
ALGEBRATOP
MUSICOFTHENIGHT
OBITPRIORNOAH
SEXYSONGSGOTO

The Gulfstream G650 (or "G6") is no longer in production, but you can still buy a used one for roughly $50 million. Too much? Rent or charter one instead. A single flight usually goes for under $20,000.

Wed 8/19/2026
ARIDPSATSCOTS
MEMOUNSEEUNIT
ISNTFEINTRELY
GOOSEFEATHERS
ARTXYZRITES
STOLEELDERCARE
SKORTOILURSA
STRAWPOLL
TAFTIVENOUNS
BLACKBARTOMITS
SINAIASSGUT
BURIESTHELEDE
BRASORATEAREA
EASEWALLEMINK
DYESASTERBATS

Clever theme. In each theme answer, the lede (leading word) is a type of berry.

Thu 8/20/2026
HARPSAFARIPSA
TROUSPOTONAIL
TASTINGROOMRNA
PLAIDOWNATEAM
NUEVASTUDIO
HORNSRIPER
RAVENSDRYNDAS
BRAVOETALOOFA
IDLEMEHDEFRAY
REIKIONPAR
CUSSATNEIGH
ISLETOKSTRACE
RUESPLITSHAIRS
CAPUSENETSNIP
ALTPIGGEDETSY

Reverse the order of the words in Across clues to match the answers. Sound like heaven → Heaven-like sound, and so on.

Fri 8/21/2026
LAMAAMBERALES
ARIDBOOTYCALLS
BANDCOCHAMPION
EMILESCONETAO
LAMELOESCLENT
SIAYOMOFUSE
CRASHINGOUT
THEATERGEEK
MEATBALLSUB
BRASHMERRAJ
HEADPHIROCOCO
EDTHOISTDESKS
WHEREITSATSALT
SODARNCUTEAWOL
GETSTHEAXRAGE

The clue "Étendue bleue" translates from French as "blue expanse" or "blue stretch," a poetic expression for the sea (or ocean).

Sat 8/22/2026
RABBITSTEWEYES
ANYONEHOMEREAL
INEXTREMISESTA
NOSPOILERSANEW
LUGSOLDON
BIFOCALSNEED
BRETHRENGROSS
QATROUTEUHH
SNARKCOLUMBIA
COILKEEPITPG
SHADOWMSN
OPEDWHITETIGER
DREWBANANACAKE
DESIIMOUTRAGED
SEENDONTSTRESS

"Volume control device?" Clever.

Sun 8/23/2026 Small Change
RADPHDSFLIRTSHARK
EMILLAINRAWERPHASEI
DOVEAPSAVEDISAPEARNED
TEENSYCPASLIMPSEELS
ABRAHAMLINCOLNICAME
GATORCANTORSNIPDUB
LASSIASCETICTHETA
USMINTMAGGOTHEIDER
STINKUPLEOROTWSJ
EEKNARCADELEITALIA
ONEAPTWOAPHOTCROSSBUNS
NOSALEBPLUSASHENAT
NODBOAEOSHOVLANE
ASADASINNRECFAIRER
CCLEFKNEEINGOHFUN
SIPELISSEANCEGETAT
ACRIDTHEUNIONSHIELD
SASHBODHIRICOANTEUP
PUTINYOURTWOCENTSEMMA
UTOPIALEMONNEOSMENS
NORSELEEKSEDGYDIS
Mon 8/24/2026
ACMECUMINBALE
POEMASADAORES
UNDERWORLDWANT
IRISDEIFOE
OMEGATIDALWAVE
REVENGEONTO
CMAACLREB
HELLORHIGHWATER
ALBPOEELA
ZANGRACEDBY
PURGATORYACTAS
IREEWEELLA
PITHANGELFALLS
ECHOSEALSIKEA
SHAGERNIERSVP
Tue 8/25/2026
NIBAKONRAJAS
EVABOHOSATURN
PERSEIDSUTOPIA
TRILLAEONMIDI
USSRMENSATIL
NOTVENUSWHETS
ENAMORMERCURY
ALITTIME
SPRUCESPOSTOP
CHASMTITANIRL
HICEARTHREBA
AVESWAWABEGIN
TECATEITSADATE
URANUSTSARMAT
PYREXHOPEELS

Overlaid concentric circles go through each planet's name in order.

Wed 8/26/2026
RAGEMAGMAMOPE
AHEMATLASAVON
BEAUTYMARKREND
BARRAFAWARY
IDSAYEDUMACATE
NOSECARACAS
MAUIALTTIP
SALTEDCARAMEL
HANSEEOVID
MRSLATECNET
MACADAMIAREAMS
JABSAMOSPEW
REPOSOMEPEOPLE
EVERARBORFLEA
PODSMESSYFEET

Each themer is built entirely from a string of first names.

Entry Names
BEAUTY MARK BEAU + TY + MARK
EDUMACATE ED + UMA + CATE
SALTED CARAMEL SAL + TED + CARA + MEL
MACADAMIA MAC + ADA + MIA
Thu 8/27/2026
UNZIPSTARZPJS
NAZCATOPAZIPO
ATBAREYEOPENER
SOUNDERSIMAGE
ATONEFRAT
JLOOOZIERZOE
NODOZZENOZAG
OURZESTFULZSA
ALIJUNOLAZED
HENAREPASIFS
WHOSHOWRU
ATSEAGIGABYTE
NAMENAMESSAWIV
APUDRONEPLUME
LEGSKATESLYER

ZZs are pushed to the top of the theme answers.

Grid Entry Actual Answer
ZZBUALDRIN BUZZ ALDRIN
ZZPIAROLL PIZZA ROLL
ZZZZFUYWUY FUZZY WUZZY
ZZJAHANDS JAZZ HANDS

A rare semi-themed Friday from eight years ago had a similar idea.

Fri 8/28/2026
SCREWITHELEN
IHOPENOTAGILE
NONANSWERRINSE
ERATELEPORTED
WELLWELLWELL
DEEPSOLDSAW
AMIGASBRERMID
MANORYAKATARI
ASHETONSMILEY
HONSHUMCING
BOOSTERSEATS
ITSABREEZEMII
LOOFAESCAPEACT
LILACSAMANTHA
SLINKLOWGEAR

I had to look this one up: The term E-girl (short for Electronic Girl) refers to a youth subculture that emerged in the late 2010s, popularized on platforms like TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, and Discord. It combines digital culture, internet aesthetics, and alternative fashion styles.

Sat 8/29/2026
ABCSNBACHAMPS
BIORESUSHIBOAT
IDTAGALIENSHIP
GOTMADLANDANA
ACLSEWINGPITT
STEBAINPARS
SOCIALLADDER
RANITSCOURSE
PATIOHEATERS
TENNISLESSON
ARIDNOIRTRY
BRIESOAKSSWAP
PIGTHUSTECHNO
LOGARITHMRAIDS
USERERRORALLOT
SIDESTEPSSEEM
Sun 8/30/2026 Written in the Stars
JAFARSOLDIBETNBA
ARUBAKABOOMFREEFORM
HENRIMATISSESALMINEO
NADIYATEMUPRAWN
EDYSCANSDONNASUMMER
REGINAKINGSTASESERA
ALIVESCALPAVOW
STREWSGEORGEFOREMAN
ESLPEAELINERUDA
SQUAREOCCAMCRIES
RECURRINGCHARACTERS
FOLIEPATIOWEGOOD
ILLFEDGASSIMCVS
ELAINESTRITCHPEORIA
MOUESAABSPHONY
WARSOLDERBRIELARSON
EVELKNIEVELDECOESSO
EIEIOEDIENECTAR
BABERUTHORLANDOBLOOM
INONTIMESAMMIEALANA
TSKSECSSOYARYDER

It's not quite anagrams, it's letter banks. Each italicized celebrity clue and its celebrity answer use exactly the same set of letters.

Mon 8/31/2026
STEPUCLATIPSY
LUXEBAITAGREE
OTISELMOLOOTS
BUTTERFINGERS
LESTAUCAT
MABELJELLYFISH
AVASADPERUSE
RANATABPETITES
SLALOMRADTRI
HONEYMOONHOOTS
ANAIRAPUN
SPREADTHEWORD
IGLOOCIAOALIA
COURTLENTRACY
EDGESESSODYES
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