Moderate crossword clue
65 Across · WSJ Crossword, October 9, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Moderate” is ABATE. It appears as 65 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of October 9, 2026, a Friday puzzle titled “Under the Weather” by Alan Olschwang, and it fills 5 squares running left to right from row 10, column 7 of the 21×21 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 A and ends with E, and contains 3 vowels and 2 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Friday puzzles are the Journal’s contest crosswords with a hidden meta answer, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer ABATE: