WSJ Crossword October 27, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 27, 2026, “Set a Side,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Christopher Youngs 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 KEEPINGABREAST at 14 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 SPASM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is BABE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is LIST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is PASTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is OVUM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with O and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ANEW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is OLSEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is NILE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is NANO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is KEEPINGABREAST, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with K and ends with T, with 6 vowels among its 14 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
23 Across is EOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is LEO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is SLICER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Across is WAX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with W and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is SMOG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Across is RNA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with R and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is FASO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with F and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is TAKENABACK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with T and ends with K, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
37 Across is ITPRO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is SIS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is RUPEE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is THINKAHEAD, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with T and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
44 Across is FEDS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with F 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.
45 Across is ILK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with I and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is ICES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is OFF, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with O and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is NEEDNT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with N and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is ATL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
52 Across is CCS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with C and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
55 Across is THEGAMEISAFOOT, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with T and ends with T, with 7 vowels among its 14 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
59 Across is MIEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is SAGS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Across is ULTRA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is ACES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is TATER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is ISLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is FETE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is APART, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is SPOKE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is PALEO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with P and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is ASSES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. 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.
4 Down is STEP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Down is MANILA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is BONGO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is AVIA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is BULB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with B and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is EMERSON, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is LANAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with L and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is INASCRAPE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
12 Down is SENTENCED, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
13 Down is TWO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is NEXT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Down is ELGAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is RAKES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is WORN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with W and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is SKIES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is MESA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is FITIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with F and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is ATHLETICS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
33 Down is SPIKEHEEL, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with S and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
35 Down is ASHE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is BUFF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with B and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is OKING, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with O and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Down is ACTASIF, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with A and ends with F, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is DOTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Down is FLAUTA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with F and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is DENSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is AISLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is COTTA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is CORER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is START, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
56 Down is MADE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is EGOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is FLAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with F and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Down is MAI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 39 Across and 37 Down entries, with 34 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.