WSJ Crossword October 13, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 13, 2026, “The Old College Try,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Vasu Seralathan with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is INSIDEVOICE 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 BJORK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is DEIST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Across is LIP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is RABBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with R and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ALLAH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with A and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is ORR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with O and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is INSIDEVOICE, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 11 letters.
19 Across is ZOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with Z and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
20 Across is TEC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is LDOPA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is MENA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is IDE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is INSECTVENOM, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with I and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
27 Across is SONATA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is RUNGUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with R and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Across is HEEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
31 Across is APHID, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is ETS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with E 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.
35 Across is IVYLEAGUE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with I and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
39 Across is GTO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with G and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is IOTAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with I 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.
43 Across is SOLD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is LUBECK, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with L and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Across is ARCHER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is INTAKEVALVE, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
55 Across is HAY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Across is MEAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is ABOIL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Across is EVE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Across is PSI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Across is INDUSVALLEY, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
63 Across is SUN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is REESE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is YALIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with Y and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is EPS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
67 Across is SORES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with S 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.
68 Across is SPOTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
Down
1 Down is BRITISH, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
2 Down is JANEDOE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with J and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is OBSCENE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is RBI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with R and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is KIDLIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with K and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
6 Down is DAVOS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ELOPE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is ILIAC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is SAC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is THE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
11 Down is LOZENGE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is IRONOUT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is PREAMPS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
18 Down is EDNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is MEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with M and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is TRIG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is VUDU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with V and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Down is ALT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is PEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Down is HAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with H 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 Down is VICK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with V and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Down is YOKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with Y and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is ESC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is GLIMPSE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Down is TUNESUP, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with T and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
41 Down is OBTAINS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is OHHELLO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is LEAVEIT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with L and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is DRYEYES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Down is EAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
49 Down is AVIV, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with V, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is RELAYS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Down is VADER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with V and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is ABUSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is LOSES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Down is IRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with I 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.
61 Down is NEO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is LAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with L and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.