Scratch the surface? crossword clue
54 Down · WSJ Crossword, October 26, 2026 · 4 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Scratch the surface?” is ETCH. It appears as 54 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of October 26, 2026, a Monday puzzle titled “Just for Kicks” by AJ Phillips, and it fills 4 squares running top to bottom from row 12, column 1 of the 15×15 grid.
The question mark at the end of the clue signals wordplay: the surface reading is a misdirection, and the answer fits a punning or figurative sense of the words. The entry begins with E and ends with H, and contains 1 vowel and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. Monday puzzles are the most approachable of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer ETCH:
- Leave one’s mark onSep 18, 2026