WSJ Crossword October 21, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 21, 2026, “Rock Climbing,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Mike Graczyk with 78 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 STEPPINGSTONE at 13 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 AOK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Across is BAA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
7 Across is BALSA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Across is UNIFORMS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with U and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
15 Across is PASTES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with P 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.
16 Across is SWEETTEA, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
17 Across is OHYEAH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 10. It begins with O and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Across is TERN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
19 Across is STPETE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Across is IGA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Across is INSEAM, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with I and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
24 Across is TABS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Across is NONAME, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Across is SST, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with S and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is MOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is LOAVES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with L 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.
36 Across is UPEND, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with U and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Across is STEPPINGSTONE, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
41 Across is HOUSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with H and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is STOUTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with S 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.
43 Across is ERR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is NBA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with N and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
46 Across is BUTTON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with B and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is MENU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with M and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is AGHAST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is RCA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with R and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Across is RESEES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with R and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
58 Across is ZITI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with Z and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is AWHILE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
62 Across is APPROVAL, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
65 Across is APPALL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
66 Across is PETPEEVE, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 8. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
67 Across is SASHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is RAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 9. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
69 Across is TED, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with T and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is AUSTIN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is ONWEGO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is KIERAN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with K and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is BOT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is ART, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is AMESS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is BAHT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ASYET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is LTE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is SEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is ASH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is FEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 4. It begins with F and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Down is SATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Down is POEMS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Down is PASSGO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is IMOPEN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with I and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Down is NEAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with N and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is AMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is BONE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
27 Down is SOD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
29 Down is ALES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with A 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.
31 Down is TUTTUT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Down is VISAGE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with V and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
35 Down is ENT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is POST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is SORE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is TURN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is SUBS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with S 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.
41 Down is HEM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with H and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
45 Down is BASEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with B and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Down is TRIVET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is OCTAVE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is NAILED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with N and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is URIAH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with U and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is HEAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with H and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is ASPER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is ELLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is ZOE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with Z and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is AAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. 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.
60 Down is WPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with W and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is HPS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with H 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.
63 Down is PTA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with P and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Down is RPM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with R and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 35 Across and 43 Down entries, with 42 black squares and 28 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.