WSJ Crossword November 9, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for November 9, 2026, “There’s No There There,” is a Monday puzzle by Mat Holmes 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 ALLFLASHNOCASH at 14 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 MWAH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is TAGS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is OMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Across is OOZES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O 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.
15 Across is UTAH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with U and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is MALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is MOURN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is SOLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is IKID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ALLBARKNOBITE, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
23 Across is ARO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
24 Across is SAD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Across is SUP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is ALLFLASHNOCASH, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with H, with 4 vowels among its 14 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
33 Across is APE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Across is OWL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with O and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is GLADTO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
36 Across is TOGAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is LOP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with L and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is STEIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is BLASTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
44 Across is MIC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with M and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is AMY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is ALLHATNOCATTLE, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 14 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
51 Across is TOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
52 Across is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
53 Across is AHA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
54 Across is ALLFOAMNOBEER, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with A and ends with R, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Across is GAGA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is ACME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is NOTME, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is POLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is NOON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is GOTUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with G and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is ALES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, 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.
69 Across is INKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
70 Across is SASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is MOMA, a 4-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 4 letters.
2 Down is WOOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with W and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is AZUL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is HERBAL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is TUSK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is ATON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is GALOSH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with G and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
8 Down is SHEBANG, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
9 Down is OMIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is MAKESADEAL, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with L, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
11 Down is ELI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is NED, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with N and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Down is SNARF, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
21 Down is ROLO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is IDOLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I 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.
26 Down is USTIME, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
27 Down is PHONY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
28 Down is APOLLO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Down is LEGALEAGLE, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with L and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
30 Down is AWL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is SLOMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is CAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is ATBAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is ASH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is STALL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
40 Down is PIC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with P and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Down is STEFANI, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with S and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is CAAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with C and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is NEOCON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with N and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is THONG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
50 Down is TABOOS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with T and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Down is LAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is AMOK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is MENS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is ETTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is EMUS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. 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.
60 Down is REPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Down is GPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is AOL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 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.