Means of advancement, and what can be found in each set of circles in this puzzle crossword clue
38 Across · WSJ Crossword, October 21, 2026 · 13 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Means of advancement, and what can be found in each set of circles in this puzzle” is STEPPINGSTONE. It appears as 38 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of October 21, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle titled “Rock Climbing” by Mike Graczyk, and it fills 13 squares running left to right from row 8, column 2 of the 15×15 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with S and ends with E, and contains 4 vowels and 9 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Wednesday puzzles sit mid-week on the difficulty curve, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
STEPPINGSTONE has not appeared as an answer in any other WSJ puzzle in our index, which runs from May 2026 onward. It will be listed here the next time it turns up.