WSJ Crossword October 15, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 15, 2026, “Waving Hello,” 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 SPRINGSTEENSONG 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 MESH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is CAFFE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is KNIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is EXPO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ORALB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with O and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is RENO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is TARO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is NIQAB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with N and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is IAGO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is AMISH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is ESTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is SPAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Across is NIALL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is TOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Across is BIGEYE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Across is ALSO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is LAD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is USSR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with U and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
36 Across is EATOFF, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with E and ends with F, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Across is IDO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is OATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. 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.
40 Across is DUBAI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with D and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is STOW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is NAE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Across is ISSAFE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is CARE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is ACE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is PUTT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is LIONEL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with L and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Across is NAAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is ADDUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Across is TASK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Across is IZOD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is STINE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is IGOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is THREW, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with T and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
63 Across is CZAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is ERNO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is EAGLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is AZUR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is SIGN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
68 Across is DOSES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with D 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.
69 Across is RATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with R 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.
Down
1 Down is META, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is EXAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is SPRINGSTEENSONG, a 15-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 15 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
4 Down is HOOSIERS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with H and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
5 Down is CON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is ARIEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is FAQS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with F 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 FLAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is EBBETSFIELD, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
10 Down is KRIST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
11 Down is NEAPOLITANPIZZA, a 15-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with N and ends with A, with 7 vowels among its 15 letters.
12 Down is INGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is TOOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Down is HAY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is LEEDSUNITED, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with L and ends with D, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
27 Down is OOF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with O and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
28 Down is BUONA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is ISAAC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with I and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is ATBAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is LOAF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with L and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is ADORE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is DOWEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with D and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is AUST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is SCOUTCAR, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
43 Down is IPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Down is IDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. 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.
50 Down is AKRON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is ADELE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is TIES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is AGRI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ZHAO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with Z and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is ORGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is NAUT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with N and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is ERRS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Down is WES, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 43 Across and 35 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.