WSJ Crossword November 3, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for November 3, 2026, “Hot Leads,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Sam Koperwas with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is FRESHAPPROACH at 13 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 DAMP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is TGIF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is DEM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Across is ODORS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O 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.
14 Across is PEACE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is AXE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
16 Across is HADIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with H and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is INGENERAL, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with I and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is MATTE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is DANCE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is SMARTWATCH, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Across is RITE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Across is MIMOSA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is HEISTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with H 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.
31 Across is UFOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with U 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.
32 Across is HOARD, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with H and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is FRESHAPPROACH, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with F and ends with H, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
40 Across is FORTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with F and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Across is GLUT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Across is PSYOPS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
46 Across is CREOLE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Across is PATE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is SHARPANGLE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
52 Across is SNOOP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is DORIC, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with D and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is HIPHUGGER, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with H and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
58 Across is DINER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Across is SOAPY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is SEEYA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is WIT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Across is HOST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is STEW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is DOH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is ADA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is MOD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is PRIMROSE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is TENET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is GAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with G and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is ICE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is FEND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with F and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is DARNIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is EXACTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is MELEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is STATS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
14 Down is PITA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Down is EARS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with E 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.
20 Down is TWA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with T and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Down is SMU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Down is MIFF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with M and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Down is AMOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is CHAPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
26 Down is HERR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with H and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Down is IDO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Down is HARSH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with H and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
33 Down is OPT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Down is SFO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is HOPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Down is AGENCIES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
38 Down is CLOG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with C and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is HULL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is TEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Down is PANINI, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with P and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is STOPAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is YEOH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with Y and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is CPR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is RAIDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with R 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.
48 Down is PSHAW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with P and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
50 Down is ADEPT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is RORY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is PUSH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with P and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is GOO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Down is GAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is NET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is EYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is RAW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with R and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 33 Across and 43 Down entries, with 46 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.