WSJ Crossword October 1, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 1, 2026, “We’ll Be Around,” is a Thursday puzzle by Matt Gaffney with 78 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 YOUWOULDNT 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 PAU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Across is LEGATO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with L and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Across is UBER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A 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.
15 Across is ICONIC, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with I and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is TINA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is YOUWOULDNT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is EDDY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is UBAHN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with U and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is REIGN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is POLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is DEADLYSINS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with D and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Across is NAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Across is EMILIA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Across is AMYIRVING, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
37 Across is LOKI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is SAVORED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Across is VON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with V and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is ORAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is ONEMOMENT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with O and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
47 Across is SCREED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is CIAO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with C and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is SINGLEKNOT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
54 Across is TWOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with T 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.
58 Across is USMAP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with U and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is STAMP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
60 Across is LOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with L and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is OREOCOOKIE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 7 vowels among its 10 letters.
66 Across is BLUE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is NAPPED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with N and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
68 Across is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
69 Across is JETS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with J 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.
70 Across is STATES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. 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.
71 Across is SSR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with S and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is PAYUP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is ADOBO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is USUAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with U and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is LION, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is ECU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is GOL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with G and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is ANDRA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is TINED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is OCTILE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is UTENSIL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with U and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
11 Down is BID, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Down is END, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is RAY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Down is WHENI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with W and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is GYM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with G and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Down is DIVA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is ERIVO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is ILOVE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is NIKON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is SAINT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is ARS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is ALOSS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is MERCI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is YEARN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is NON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with N and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is GRECO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Down is EMIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is DOA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Down is LEGUMES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with L and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is MOTTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is ELS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Down is DEMONS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with D 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.
52 Down is KARAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with K and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is NPEPA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is WAKES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is OMITS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
57 Down is SPEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Down is SODS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is LBJ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with L and ends with J, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is OLE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is OUT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Down is OPT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Down is CEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 35 Across and 43 Down entries, with 38 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.