WSJ Crossword October 18, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 18, 2026, “Hard Finishes,” is a Sunday puzzle by Mike Shenk 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 CHEAPSKATE at 10 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 GAULS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is ACRID, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Across is DID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is AGNEW, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is CHOSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is ENO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is PESTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is HOTSPRING, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with H and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters.
20 Across is THOU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 3. It begins with T and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is AUTOMAT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with A and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
23 Across is CHEAPSKATE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
27 Across is MOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Across is HEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Across is MACE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Across is CASEY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Across is AID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is SALT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Across is TAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is PRY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Across is TIECLIP, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with T and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
37 Across is BOW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with B and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is CAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with C and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is OUTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Across is APE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
43 Across is OPART, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is POLI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with P and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is ORAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Across is NOSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is DOLLARBILL, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with D and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
51 Across is ATHEART, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
53 Across is NUTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with N 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.
54 Across is BACKBOARD, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with B and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
57 Across is MUTES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Across is ANGER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is OSAKA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is TON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is BEEFY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is RESET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is GAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is AGE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is UNSTEADY, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with U and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
4 Down is LETHAL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with L and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is SWOOP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is ACH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is CHO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is ROTATE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is ISSUE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is DEPT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
11 Down is DEIMOS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D 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.
12 Down is INNATE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is DOGTOY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
19 Down is ROMAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Down is USMAIL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with U and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Down is CHAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Down is HEIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is KALE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with K and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is ACTCOOL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
30 Down is CAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with C 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.
32 Down is STAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Down is TITIAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with T and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
36 Down is LULL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with L and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Down is BARISTAS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with B 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.
38 Down is OPAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is WELL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with W and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is CREEK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with C and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is ONABET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is POTATO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with P and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is ASHCAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is POTAGE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is OBTUSE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is DRONE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is RUMOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is ABAB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with A and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is REF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with R and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
56 Down is DRY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Down is EKE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is SAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 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.