WSJ Crossword October 14, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 14, 2026, “Tuneup,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 72 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is FETTUCCINEALFRE at 15 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 RUB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is EVOKES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Across is IAGO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ABU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is MIRREN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is SLID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
17 Across is FETTUCCINEALFRE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with F and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
20 Across is ARTCLASS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
21 Across is EMAILS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Across is OMAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is EZINES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
24 Across is INN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with I and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Across is TAB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with T and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is REND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Across is NOMDEGUER, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with N and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
32 Across is DEBBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is ALAI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is ELWAY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is REAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with R and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is NANAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. 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.
42 Across is GENOASALA, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with G and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters.
44 Across is GLUE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is DUB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with D and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
47 Across is REX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with R and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is MANORS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with M 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.
50 Across is NADA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is SONOMA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Across is TAGSALES, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with T and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
57 Across is ENDSONAHIGHNOTE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
59 Across is GERE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is UNODUE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with U and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
61 Across is FRA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with F and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Across is AYES, 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. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
63 Across is STRAND, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
64 Across is TEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is RAFA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is UBER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is BUTTONMAN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with B and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
4 Down is EMULATE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is VICARAGE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with V and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
6 Down is ORCS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is KRIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with K 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.
8 Down is EEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is SNEEZE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
10 Down is ISLANDERS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
11 Down is ALFIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is GIRLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with G 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.
13 Down is ODES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O 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.
18 Down is TCM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with T and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
19 Down is AMIND, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is ERRAND, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Down is INAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is NOLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is BULGES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with B 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.
30 Down is DIAGNOSES, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with D and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
31 Down is EWE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Down is BEARALOFT, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with B and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
34 Down is BALE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is IMAX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with I and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is YOUNGGUN, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
41 Down is SLOMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is ABASHED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is URANUS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with U and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is MONEY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ANDRE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is DAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
52 Down is SEGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is THOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is AIDA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ETRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is SEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is ANT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 35 Across and 37 Down entries, with 34 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.