WSJ Crossword October 20, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 20, 2026, “Small Change,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Gene Leganza & Theresa Brady 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 SLIGHTANNOYANCE 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 MASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is CARDS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Across is RIPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, 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.
14 Across is ATIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ALBEE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is IDEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is NAME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is FAINTODORS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with F and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
20 Across is DRONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is ITHELPS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
23 Across is MINORHASSLES, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Across is SUBTEEN, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with S and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
28 Across is USE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Across is ACME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is TRU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with T and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Across is ROLEX, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with R and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Across is SLIGHTANNOYANCE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
42 Across is TANGO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is KID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with K and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is RATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Across is OPT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is MAHALIA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with M and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
50 Across is REMOTECHANCE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with R and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
55 Across is EPAULET, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
58 Across is AVIAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is PETTYCRIME, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
63 Across is OVID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with O and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is EGOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is HOVEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is WERE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is ESPY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
68 Across is EDENS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E 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 SAND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is MANDM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
2 Down is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is SIMON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
4 Down is STENO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is CAF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
7 Down is RBI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with R and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is DENISE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with D and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is SETTLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is RIDES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with R 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.
11 Down is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is PERP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with P and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is SASS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
19 Down is OHENRY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Down is ERS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with E 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.
24 Down is HUTT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Down is ABRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is STUNKAT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
28 Down is ULNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is SECT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Down is EXES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with E 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.
31 Down is ASTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Down is CLAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Down is MINT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Down is EGG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with E and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is OAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Down is HOMELY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
40 Down is NILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is ODIC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with O and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is AMECHE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is HOTROD, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with H and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
49 Down is AHA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Down is RUTTY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
51 Down is AVOWS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with A 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.
52 Down is NIVEA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with N and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is CAIRN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with C and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is ENDED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is EPEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is PEGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. 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.
57 Down is ATOP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is IVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is MEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with M and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is ELS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with E 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.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 33 Across and 43 Down entries, with 38 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.