WSJ Crossword October 19, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 19, 2026, “Split Decision,” is a Monday puzzle by Adam Simpson 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 CAMPAIGNPROMISE 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 PUPA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ALLIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is DEMI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ATOP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is QUESO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with Q and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is EXEC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is CAMPAIGNPROMISE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
20 Across is SHELF, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
21 Across is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Across is IOTAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. 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.
23 Across is AAA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is ANN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Across is SURVIVALKIT, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with S and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
31 Across is EMUS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is GRANT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
34 Across is ZIGS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with Z and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Across is DWEEB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with D and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is OLD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is PETAL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with P and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is MAD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is AMNESIA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Across is ANY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is HEARTSTOPPING, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with H and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
49 Across is BRA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with B and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is AAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
51 Across is SABLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is VJS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with V and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
57 Across is YIPES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Across is TRIALSEPARATION, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with T and ends with N, with 7 vowels among its 15 letters.
64 Across is ATOZ, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is ARENA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is OMNI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is NYSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
68 Across is WAGED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with W and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
69 Across is NAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is PACS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P 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.
2 Down is UTAH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with U and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is POME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is APPLAUSE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is AQI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is LUGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with L 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.
7 Down is LENT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ISPY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is NOR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is DEMONIZE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with D and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is EXIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is MESA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ICES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Down is AFAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Down is OINK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with O and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is AVG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with A and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
25 Down is ALT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Down is SUEDE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is IRONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is VALET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with V and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is ANDSO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is TITAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is EDM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is MWAH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with M and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Down is GANG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with G and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
36 Down is SLY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is BARREL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with B and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
40 Down is PAPAYA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
43 Down is MTA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with M and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Down is IPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is ABLAZE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is ISITON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with I and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is STAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
52 Down is ARTY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is BIOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with B 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 Down is VERA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with V and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is JPEG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with J and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is SANE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is PIMA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is EONS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E 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.
60 Down is SNIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Down is SAW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is RAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 35 Across and 43 Down entries, with 42 black squares and 15 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.