Formal defense Crossword Clue

We have the 8-letter answer for Formal defense crossword clue, last seen in the WSJ Crossword January 2, 2026 puzzle. This answer will help you finish the puzzle you’re working on.

Formal defense Crossword Answer

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Helpful Hints

(noun)
1. a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly

Hint 2: Clue Definitions

DEFENSE (noun)
1. the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions
2. (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring
FORMAL (noun)
1. a lavish dance requiring formal attire
2. a gown for evening wear
FORMAL (adjective)
1. represented in simplified or symbolic form
2. refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court

More WSJ Crossword (1/2/2026) Answers

Across

1. Frosh dorm crew

4. Shipping danger

9. Unwilling to evolve

14. Clairvoyant's claim

15. “That was kinda funny!”

16. Cockamamie

17. Letters fittingly found in “Obamacare”

18. Online mail group

19. Woods with woods

20. Failed to meet expectations

23. Brunch option

24. Big fan of the king

28. Blueprint figure

30. Baker of a sort

31. Touches on

34. Like boxers before a match, often

37. Prefix with meter

38. Get lippy with

39. Boat bottoms

40. “Come to think ___...”

41. Pop chiller

42. Half a cassette

43. Like some bank transactions

44. Change the history of, as a TV series

46. Book of Ruth figure

51. Promoter of world peace

55. Maximum effort, casually

57. Humble

60. “As I ___ Down” (1995 Sophie B. Hawkins hit)

61. Fitting

62. Farm machine

63. Close at hand, poetically

64. Eastern path

65. Irritated states

66. When the roosters are a-crowin’

67. Iron-___ (some patches)

All Answers

Down

1. Check the math, maybe

2. Printer’s table

3. Involuntary movement

4. Increases

5. Distress call

6. Louisville's river

7. Norse gods

8. “___ tear be shed—not even in thought”: Shelley

9. Former drugstore giant

10. Not ready to move, perhaps

11. Running joke

12. Suffix with serpent

13. German article

21. Helpers: Abbr.

22. Sorts

25. "Toodle-oo!"

26. Hawkins of dance fame

27. Govt security

29. "Oh, shucks!"

31. Auteur Kurosawa

32. Arm part, casually

33. Be of ___ (aid)

35. Flamenco cry

36. Be a bad secret-keeper

39. It holds the door for you

40. Seeped

42. Tulsans and such

43. Yellow fruit, casually

45. Storage space

47. “___ in Havana”

49. Faisalabad faith

50. John Hersey title town

52. Cold War alliance

53. Brian Lamb’s channel

54. Von Bismarck and others

56. The day before hoy

57. Bodily sextet

58. Illegalize

59. Wacky Wong

All Answers