WSJ Crossword October 5, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 5, 2026, “Things Acquired,” is a Monday puzzle by Gary Cee with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is BACKWARDMESSAGE 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 HEAVY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is BAEZ, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with B and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is MIST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is INNIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ULNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ISEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is POTATOSACK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with P and ends with K, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is CLAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with C and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is SKI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is GINO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is AREST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is ICECREAMSCOOP, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with I and ends with P, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters.
27 Across is BRER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with B and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Across is ILK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with I and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is FOP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with F and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is OSSIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is DUO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Across is OMNI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is BACKWARDMESSAGE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
40 Across is EYRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is SUE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Across is HANES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is SHO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
44 Across is CIS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Across is WEAK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with W and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is ELEVATORSHAFT, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with E and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters.
52 Across is MYLES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
53 Across is BRIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Across is AHA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is AKIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is DELTABLUES, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with D and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
60 Across is TINS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T 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.
61 Across is ALOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is FILES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with F 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.
63 Across is EDGY, 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.
64 Across is MTNS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with M and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is GETIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is HIPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ENOKI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is ANTIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is VIA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with V and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
5 Down is YET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is BUSIER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with B and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is ALANA, a 5-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 5 letters.
8 Down is ENCOMIUM, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is ZAK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with Z and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is MICRO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is ISLEOFMAN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
12 Down is SEASPONGE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
13 Down is TENT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is OGRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is ACK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is EBIKE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is CREW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with C and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is SLOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is PIES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with P 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 OBES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
32 Down is SAYHEYKID, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
33 Down is SCROLLING, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with S and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
34 Down is DDE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with D and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Down is OSAKA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is ASIA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is RUSTBELT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
39 Down is SHAH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Down is CVS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with C and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Down is WRITES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is ESTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is EENSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ORLON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is FAULT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with F and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is THEEI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with T and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is MATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ASST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
57 Down is DAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with D and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is BFG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with B and ends with G, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is LIE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.