Vowel sound in “hard,” ironically WSJ Crossword Clue

By Narcissa Kh /

Crossword Answer

1 ? S
2 ? O
3 ? F
4 ? T
5 ? A
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Interactive Solver for Vowel sound in “hard,” ironically Crossword Clue

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      Hint 1

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      Think of the opposite of firm when describing a sound.

      Hint 2

      meaning
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      A sound that is gentle or less intense.

      Hint 3

      explanation
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      The clue uses irony by describing a vowel sound in the word 'hard' as 'soft.' In phonetics, the vowel sound in 'hard' is an open back unrounded vowel, which is considered a soft sound compared to other vowel sounds.

      Hint 4

      another clue
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      Vowel sound in "father"

      Clue Analysis

      The clue “Vowel sound in “hard,” ironically” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated April 11 2026, the definitive 5-letter answer is: SOFTA.

      Expert Tip: When you’re stuck, try to analyze the structure of the clue itself. Is it a direct definition, a pun, a fill-in-the-blank, or a pop culture reference? Identifying the type of clue you’re dealing with is a key skill for improving your solving speed.

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      Vowel sound in “hard,” ironically Crossword Clue