WSJ Crossword November 11, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for November 11, 2026, “Look Away,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Alexander Liebeskind with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is MENIALTASKS at 11 letters.
Every answer is listed below in grid order, Across first and then Down, with a short explanation of how the entry sits in the grid. Use the Definition link under any entry to pull the dictionary meaning of the answer word, or click the clue to open its own page with past appearances and neighboring clues.
Across
1 Across is MENACE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Across is FILE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
11 Across is IPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
14 Across is APACHE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
15 Across is INIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is CAB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with C and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is MENIALTASKS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is ASH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is BEADS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is ESTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is UNTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is ASS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Across is TEACANISTER, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with T and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Across is REASON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with R and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is MEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with M and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is ELSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is REST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Across is ALOHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is KEEPAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with K and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Across is EYEOUT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with E and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters. This is a cross-reference clue, so solve the referenced entry first.
39 Across is EXALT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is METS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Across is SKEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is TAO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Across is OPUSES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
47 Across is BABYMONITOR, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
50 Across is TAB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with T and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Across is ACES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
54 Across is NOTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
55 Across is READE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Across is NHL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with N and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
58 Across is NICHEMARKET, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with N and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
60 Across is DOT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Across is BOLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is ANGELA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
63 Across is SOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is CNET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Across is STONES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
Down
1 Down is MAMBA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is EPEES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
3 Down is NANAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with N and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
4 Down is ACID, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is CHASTE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is EEL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
7 Down is FIASCOS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with F and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
8 Down is INSTANT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
9 Down is LIKEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is ETS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
11 Down is ICANTLOOK, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with K, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
12 Down is PASTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is ABHOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is TEASE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is USELESS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with U and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Down is EARN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is IMAY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is REPLAYS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. This is a cross-reference clue, so solve the referenced entry first.
29 Down is EKE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Down is LEX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with L and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is SEATBELTS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
34 Down is HUE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is ATE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is ATOM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
38 Down is ESSO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is MONOCLE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Down is EPITHET, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with E and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is TUTEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 9. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
46 Down is ERRANT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is BANDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
48 Down is ACHOO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ONION, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is TAKEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is ADELE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is BETAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
56 Down is ERGO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is NBC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with N and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is MAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 38 Across and 38 Down entries, with 35 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
Prefer to solve it yourself first? The homepage lists every clue for the latest puzzle without answers, and the archive covers every WSJ crossword in our index by date. The official puzzle is published on the WSJ Puzzles page.