WSJ Crossword October 22, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 22, 2026, “Eenie, Meenie...,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk 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 COUNTINGRHYME 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 RIPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is SLIPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
10 Across is JOB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with J and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is ANEW, a 4-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 4 letters.
14 Across is COMIC, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with C and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is JUDO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with J and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is FLEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with F and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is IRATE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is AREA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is TOWIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is ECONOMY, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
23 Across is EVENED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Across is NEV, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with N and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Across is REP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is DEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Across is LUMPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
33 Across is EBOLA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is ALCOA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is ERROLL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
37 Across is COUNTINGRHYME, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with C and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
40 Across is CONDOS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C 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.
41 Across is SIREN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is INRIO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is BYSEA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is ABS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with A 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.
47 Across is OSU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with O and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Across is NBA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with N and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is DRYRUN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
52 Across is SNEAKER, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
56 Across is SETTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Across is NEHI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with N and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is RUSES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. 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.
61 Across is AFAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is AMEX, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is BLANK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with B and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
64 Across is TUNE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is BUS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with B 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.
66 Across is SAUDI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is SLED, 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 RAFTED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is INLOVE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is PEEWEE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is SWAIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is SCI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is LORE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is IMAC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with I and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is PITONS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. 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.
9 Down is SCENE, a 5-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 5 letters.
10 Down is JURYROOM, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with J and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is ODE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is BOA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Down is JAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with J and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Down is TELLNOONE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with T and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
22 Down is OVERHEARS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
24 Down is DUCTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
27 Down is ELLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is PAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is MOI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Down is PANSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
34 Down is BRYN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with B and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is AUDI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is ERRED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
37 Down is CONS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. 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.
38 Down is ONRUSHES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with O 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.
39 Down is GIS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
40 Down is CIO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Down is BAKULA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with B and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is ARTFUL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is BUTANE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is SNORED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is BARBS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
51 Down is YEATS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is NIX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with N and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Down is ESAU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with E and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is REND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is NAB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is EMU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is SKI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 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.