WSJ Crossword November 2, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for November 2, 2026, “Poll Position,” is a Monday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is ALPHAMALES at 10 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 ASH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is CANCER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Across is CASK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is MOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is HOAGIE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with H and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is ALOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is MASTERMIND, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with M and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is SPRY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is OPERATE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
21 Across is SOOTHES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with S 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.
23 Across is ETAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
24 Across is NEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is JONAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with J and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is PETERMAX, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with X, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
33 Across is CHET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Across is FEUDAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with F and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
36 Across is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Across is RAG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with R and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Across is MIDTERM, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with M and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Across is LAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with L and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
41 Across is ELNINO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
42 Across is MEMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is WATERMAN, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with W and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
45 Across is JASON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with J and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is IVY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is ACED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is INVALID, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with I and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
53 Across is SHEAVES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with S 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.
57 Across is PAID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Across is BUTTERMILK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with B and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
60 Across is APSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is ANDREA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
62 Across is SKI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Across is DAMS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is RESORT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
65 Across is ASP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is AMMO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is SOAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is HOSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is CHEATS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
5 Down is AORTA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is NAMES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. 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.
7 Down is CGI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is EINS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is REDO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is CASTER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is ALPHAMALES, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
12 Down is SORE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is KEYS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with K and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is TREAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is ONELM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is JCREW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with J and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
26 Down is OHARA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is NEGATIVISM, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with N and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
28 Down is PUTIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is EDEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is TARO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is ALAMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is XENON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with X and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is FILM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with F and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Down is EDNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is MERYL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with M and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
42 Down is MADAM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with M and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Down is EVADES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with E 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.
45 Down is JEERAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with J and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is ASTRO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is CHEER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is IPAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is NAPA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is IBAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is DUNE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is VISA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with V and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ELKS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
56 Down is SKIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Down is TDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.