WSJ Crossword October 4, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 4, 2026, “Circle of Friends,” is a Sunday puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is DRAMATEACHERS 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 CUPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is NFL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with N and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Across is DIAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with D and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 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.
13 Across is ARIA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is DUMBO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is RAPALBUMS, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
18 Across is IDAHO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is THERE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is GISTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with G 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.
22 Across is GOT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Across is DRAMATEACHERS, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with D and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
26 Across is APR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is GAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with G and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is RISE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Across is GOESUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with G and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Across is STL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with S and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
33 Across is XMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with X and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Across is ELATE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Across is SOS, 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.
39 Across is PEEVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is DEMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is DON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is POSEAS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
43 Across is ITRY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Across is POP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with P and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is TNT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with T and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is BEACHUMBRELLA, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
52 Across is ANG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Across is AGILE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is AEGIS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Across is STRAW, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
59 Across is LAMBROAST, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with L and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
61 Across is SEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with S 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.
62 Across is KNEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with K and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is NITE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is ORES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with O 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.
65 Across is CDT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 8. It begins with C and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
66 Across is SNOW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is CART, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
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 PIPEDREAM, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
4 Down is STARR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
5 Down is NAB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is FRUGAL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with F and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is LIMIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is DUD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with D and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is IMAGE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is ABHOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is LOOTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
14 Down is ASSERTS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
15 Down is DISCS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
17 Down is LEAGUE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with L and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Down is TAIL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with T and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is MAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with M and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is HEXES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is AGED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is POLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is STOIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with S and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is MEETAGAIN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with M and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
35 Down is EVAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is NEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is SOYMILK, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with S and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Down is POPLAR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
41 Down is DRUG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is POE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Down is THAWS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
45 Down is PREMED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with P and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is BASSO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is ENTER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is AGREE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is BLANC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with B and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
51 Down is LEONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is ISTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is STEW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. 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.
60 Down is BET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares and 14 circled squares that carry the theme. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.