Seize forcibly

Archive answer — September 2, 2026

40 Across

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“WREST” is the published 5-letter fill for 40 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Wall Street Journal Crossword

This clue’s Wednesday, September 2, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal or hide a letter.

Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

39 clues
  1. 1Falling-out
  2. 5Dam that created Lake Nasser
  3. 10“Hard as a Rock” band
  4. 14Its app has a “Where to?” field
  5. 15How many play Wordle
  6. 16Lively quality
  7. 17Quail collective
  8. 18Basis of many skateboarding tricks
  9. 19Sweat unit
  10. 20Cherry castoffs
  11. 22TSA checkpoint needs
  12. 23“Holy moly!”
  13. 24Early Ford competitor
  14. 25Blockchain-based collectible, for short
  15. 26Letters after a comma
  16. 27Retained
  17. 29Least willing to share information
  18. 32Makeshift shelter
  19. 35Makes an oopsy
  20. 37“I really didn’t say everything I said” speaker
  21. 38Is worse for wear
  22. 39Obedience school command
  23. 40Seize forciblyWREST
  24. 41Waithe of “Ready Player One”
  25. 42Old Testament book before Jeremiah
  26. 44Where some jokes are taken
  27. 46Coddlers of toddlers
  28. 48Kicks out of office
  29. 49Publicist’s piece
  30. 51Weather phenomenon on a muggy afternoon (NBA/NHL)
  31. 57Pacific island kingdom
  32. 58Chum
  33. 59Shop collection
  34. 61Market measure
  35. 62Forest’s role in “The Last King of Scotland”
  36. 63Bothered a lot
  37. 64Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner
  38. 65Org. with a “No Such Podcast”
  39. 66Like pleasant fall weather

Down

36 clues
  1. 1Barbecue seasonings
  2. 2Skeptical response
  3. 3Intensely surreal experience (WNBA/WNBA)
  4. 4“You wouldn’t dare!” response
  5. 5Big commotion
  6. 6Caulfield’s creator
  7. 7What viral videos spread like (NHL/WNBA)
  8. 8Top-tier celebrities
  9. 9“Science Guy” Bill
  10. 10Brothers’ keeper?
  11. 11Leaders in the pits (MLS/NFL)
  12. 12Cameron of “Charlie’s Angels”
  13. 13Concluding passage
  14. 21Org.’s kin
  15. 23Still
  16. 27Common pronoun pairing
  17. 28“Am not!” retort
  18. 30Core-strengthening device
  19. 31High schooler’s exam (that’s not redundant, since its letters no longer stand for anything)
  20. 33Radii neighbors
  21. 34Bygone emperors
  22. 36Narrow
  23. 38___ masala (potato dish)
  24. 43Puddle jumper
  25. 45It hasn’t been squared
  26. 47Arrive unnoticed
  27. 48National flower of Mexico
  28. 50“Jeepers!”
  29. 51Perfect
  30. 52Wraps up
  31. 53A long time
  32. 54Really small amount
  33. 55Père ___ (Santa’s French counterpart)
  34. 56Flashy rock genre
  35. 57Minnesota governor Walz
  36. 60Unkempt digs

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Falling-out

    Answer: RIFT

  2. 5. Dam that created Lake Nasser

    Answer: ASWAN

  3. 10. “Hard as a Rock” band

    Answer: ACDC

  4. 14. Its app has a “Where to?” field

    Answer: UBER

  5. 15. How many play Wordle

    Answer: DAILY

  6. 16. Lively quality

    Answer: BRIO

  7. 17. Quail collective

    Answer: BEVY

  8. 18. Basis of many skateboarding tricks

    Answer: OLLIE

  9. 19. Sweat unit

    Answer: BEAD

  10. 20. Cherry castoffs

    Answer: STEMS

  11. 22. TSA checkpoint needs

    Answer: IDS

  12. 23. “Holy moly!”

    Answer: YOWZA

  13. 24. Early Ford competitor

    Answer: REO

  14. 25. Blockchain-based collectible, for short

    Answer: NFT

  15. 26. Letters after a comma

    Answer: ETC

  16. 27. Retained

    Answer: HAD

  17. 29. Least willing to share information

    Answer: CAGIEST

  18. 32. Makeshift shelter

    Answer: HUT

  19. 35. Makes an oopsy

    Answer: ERRS

  20. 37. “I really didn’t say everything I said” speaker

    Answer: BERRA

  21. 38. Is worse for wear

    Answer: AILS

  22. 39. Obedience school command

    Answer: HEEL

  23. 40. Seize forcibly

    Answer: WREST

  24. 41. Waithe of “Ready Player One”

    Answer: LENA

  25. 42. Old Testament book before Jeremiah

    Answer: ISAIAH

  26. 44. Where some jokes are taken

    Answer: TOOFAR

  27. 46. Coddlers of toddlers

    Answer: MOMMIES

  28. 48. Kicks out of office

    Answer: DEPOSES

  29. 49. Publicist’s piece

    Answer: RELEASE

  30. 51. Weather phenomenon on a muggy afternoon (NBA/NHL)

    Answer: HEATLIGHTNING

  31. 57. Pacific island kingdom

    Answer: TONGA

  32. 58. Chum

    Answer: PAL

  33. 59. Shop collection

    Answer: TOOLS

  34. 61. Market measure

    Answer: INDEX

  35. 62. Forest’s role in “The Last King of Scotland”

    Answer: IDI

  36. 63. Bothered a lot

    Answer: ATEAT

  37. 64. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner

    Answer: MESSI

  38. 65. Org. with a “No Such Podcast”

    Answer: NSA

  39. 66. Like pleasant fall weather

    Answer: BALMY

Down

  1. 1. Barbecue seasonings

    Answer: RUBS

  2. 2. Skeptical response

    Answer: IBET

  3. 3. Intensely surreal experience (WNBA/WNBA)

    Answer: FEVERDREAM

  4. 4. “You wouldn’t dare!” response

    Answer: TRYME

  5. 5. Big commotion

    Answer: ADO

  6. 6. Caulfield’s creator

    Answer: SALINGER

  7. 7. What viral videos spread like (NHL/WNBA)

    Answer: WILDFIRE

  8. 8. Top-tier celebrities

    Answer: ALISTERS

  9. 9. “Science Guy” Bill

    Answer: NYE

  10. 10. Brothers’ keeper?

    Answer: ABBOT

  11. 11. Leaders in the pits (MLS/NFL)

    Answer: CREWCHIEFS

  12. 12. Cameron of “Charlie’s Angels”

    Answer: DIAZ

  13. 13. Concluding passage

    Answer: CODA

  14. 21. Org.’s kin

    Answer: SOC

  15. 23. Still

    Answer: YET

  16. 27. Common pronoun pairing

    Answer: HEHIM

  17. 28. “Am not!” retort

    Answer: ARESO

  18. 30. Core-strengthening device

    Answer: ABWHEEL

  19. 31. High schooler’s exam (that’s not redundant, since its letters no longer stand for anything)

    Answer: SATTEST

  20. 33. Radii neighbors

    Answer: ULNAE

  21. 34. Bygone emperors

    Answer: TSARS

  22. 36. Narrow

    Answer: SLIM

  23. 38. ___ masala (potato dish)

    Answer: ALOO

  24. 43. Puddle jumper

    Answer: AIRTAXI

  25. 45. It hasn’t been squared

    Answer: OPENTAB

  26. 47. Arrive unnoticed

    Answer: SLIPIN

  27. 48. National flower of Mexico

    Answer: DAHLIA

  28. 50. “Jeepers!”

    Answer: EGADS

  29. 51. Perfect

    Answer: HONE

  30. 52. Wraps up

    Answer: ENDS

  31. 53. A long time

    Answer: AGES

  32. 54. Really small amount

    Answer: IOTA

  33. 55. Père ___ (Santa’s French counterpart)

    Answer: NOEL

  34. 56. Flashy rock genre

    Answer: GLAM

  35. 57. Minnesota governor Walz

    Answer: TIM

  36. 60. Unkempt digs

    Answer: STY

The answer to “Seize forcibly” in the Wall Street Journal Crossword is WREST — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for September 2, 2026 at 40-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Seize forcibly” answer

WREST(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does WREST fit?

WREST is the published 5-letter answer at 40-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Seize forcibly” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Seize forcibly”?

The answer is WREST.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: WREST.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Wall Street Journal Crossword for September 2, 2026 at 40-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the Wall Street Journal answers page for September 2, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

Skip to main content