WSJ Crossword October 11, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 11, 2026, “Final Count,” is a Sunday puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is HOPPEDAFREIGHT 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 WHITE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is INCH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with I and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is PIPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is EASEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is HALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is AMID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is BREAKSEVEN, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with B and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is YALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with Y and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is SPEC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
21 Across is MAYO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is ASHEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is USER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is ACLU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Across is HOPPEDAFREIGHT, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with H and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 14 letters.
32 Across is BALSA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is DIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Across is PEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, 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.
36 Across is TACOBAR, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with T and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Across is FSU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with F and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is BEES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
43 Across is NUB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is ELATE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is ERNESTBORGNINE, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 14 letters.
50 Across is TAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is IOTA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is BAWLS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Across is BABA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is ISTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is ERIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is HATELISTEN, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with H and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
63 Across is DING, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is OLAY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is POUTY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is SASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is TIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is ANNEX, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with A and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is WEBS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is HARP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with H and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is ISEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is TEACUPS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T 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.
5 Down is ELK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with E and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is IHEARD, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with I and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is NAVY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is CLEO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is HEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with H and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is PAYSLIP, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is IMAHUGEFAN, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
12 Down is PILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is EDEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Down is SMEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is ACE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Down is SPAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Down is AREA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is HADER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is OLSENTWINS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
28 Down is ADOBO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is FIB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with F and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Down is HASTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is TRUE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Down is BABE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is ANTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A 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.
38 Down is CUB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with C and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is RENT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is SEALEGS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is LIAISON, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with L and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Down is SOS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Down is RIBEYE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is GOAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with G and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is BEDS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with B 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.
53 Down is ARIA, 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.
54 Down is BALI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with B and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ATAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is STUN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is TETE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is ONYX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with O and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Down is HOT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is IPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.