WSJ Crossword October 12, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 12, 2026, “Covered Costs,” is a Monday puzzle by Aaron Ullman with 78 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 CAMERAANGLE at 11 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 ABEAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is DATA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ECHO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is CRASH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with C and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
15 Across is OOHS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is LAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is HOUSERULES, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with H and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
19 Across is AMOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is THOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
21 Across is FEELER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with F and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is POSSUM, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with P and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Across is ABRA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Across is RAE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
29 Across is IVY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is BATMITZVAHS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
33 Across is TALK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Across is NEU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with N and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is YEAST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with Y and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Across is VANILLABEAN, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with V and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
41 Across is MAINE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is ESE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Across is LGBT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with L and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is FLATEARTHER, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with F and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
51 Across is LOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
52 Across is AMP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Across is DUOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with D 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.
54 Across is REDEYE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
56 Across is ALISTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
58 Across is AMIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is GNAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Across is HIDDENFEES, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with H and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
65 Across is PATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is OTRO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is IOWAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with I and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is ACHY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
69 Across is RAYS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
70 Across is NEWTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is ACH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is BRO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with B and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
3 Down is EAU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with E and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Down is ASSTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
5 Down is THEHUB, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with T and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is DOUR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is AOL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is THEFBI, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is ASSERT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ELAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is CAMERAANGLE, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with C and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
12 Down is HOORAHS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with H 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.
13 Down is OSS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Down is ROMANI, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with R and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is EAZYE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is PIT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is OVA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Down is SYLVIAPLATH, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with S and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
26 Down is AMULETS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
28 Down is EST, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is TEL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with T and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is VEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with V and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Down is KANT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is NEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with N 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.
39 Down is ASH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is BEERME, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
41 Down is MFA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Down is ALMANAC, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with A and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is BOY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Down is TOE, 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.
48 Down is AUTHOR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with A and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is ROSITA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with R and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is REININ, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with R and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Down is DEFOE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with D and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is ITSY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is ADOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. 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.
59 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.
61 Down is DRY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is EWW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with E and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is EAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Down is SNO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 36 black squares and 14 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.