WSJ Crossword November 5, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for November 5, 2026, “Color Me Gone,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is BOTTLERACK 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 LEAF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is CLAY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is MONET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is SALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is HIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ORONO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is DRILLEDON, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with D and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is DAMON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with D and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is OAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Across is CUTESY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Across is COUNTUP, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Across is SOLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Across is ONLY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Across is BOTTLERACK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with B and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
33 Across is RAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is SIRI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is ICON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is MUIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is HEMIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is OTRO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is ATME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is UDON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with U and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Across is ONT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is COASTRANGE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
46 Across is FRET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is EROS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Across is SADISTS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
50 Across is BATTEN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with B and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Across is TOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Across is RIATA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with R and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is WHISTLEAT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with W and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
61 Across is ADULT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is AURA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is DAIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is GATES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with G 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.
65 Across is REST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is SULK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is LSD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with D, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
2 Down is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Down is FELONY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with F and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is CHERUB, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is LID, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is ADO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is YEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is MODULE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ORATORIO, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 5 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is NOME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is ENOS, a 4-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 4 letters.
13 Down is TONY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is LAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is COLIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with C and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is CORMAC, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Down is ONAUTO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Down is ULTIMA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with U and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Down is POSEDAS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Down is STRINGS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 7 letters.
29 Down is TIMON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is ACTORS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Down is CORNET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Down is KNOTTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with K and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
37 Down is RESETTLE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
38 Down is HURON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Down is TREATS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is EATSAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is FIELDS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with F 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.
49 Down is DOT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Down is BRAG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with B and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
51 Down is AIDA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is TAUT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is WAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with W and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Down is HUE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Down is IRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
58 Down is EAU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with E and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is AIL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is TSK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with T and ends with K, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 42 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
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.