WSJ Crossword October 6, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 6, 2026, “Take Your Pict,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 78 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 FRANZKAFKA at 10 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 AUNTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. 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.
6 Across is SCAB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is AFRO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is BREAK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with B and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is EZRA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is TRON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
17 Across is CARPETTACT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is RAUL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with R and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is SLO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is WHIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with W and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Across is POINTY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is DEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with D and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is TOPAZ, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with T and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is ROBERT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is COLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Across is KIA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with K and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is OPEC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is POWERPACT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with P and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
36 Across is AREAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Across is OUI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with O and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is ALFIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is DAFFYDUCT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
42 Across is IKEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is BOTH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with B and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Across is ONEARM, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with O and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Across is AMITY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Across is SPED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
50 Across is MOTILE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Across is HOES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is MOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is AHEM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is SOUNDTRACT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
60 Across is TIRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is OVEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is LENTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is TOSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is NOSY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Across is EXXON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is ABCS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A 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.
2 Down is URAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with U and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is NERO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is TAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is SKEWER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is SETIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is CZAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ARC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is BATPOLE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is ATRIA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is FRANZKAFKA, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with F and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
12 Down is ROUT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ONLY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is THAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
23 Down is OPERA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is DECAF, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with D and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is TOWIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is ROADS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. 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.
27 Down is OPRAH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is BEEFEATERS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with B and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Down is COUCH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with C and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is ICIER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with I and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is ATEAM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with A and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is POUTY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is PLIED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with P and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is SYBIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Down is DOTESON, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with D and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is OPED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with O and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is NESTLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is MIMES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with M 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.
49 Down is SONNY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
50 Down is MATT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Down is OHIO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is HUES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with H 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.
53 Down is MANX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with M and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is OCTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ETON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is OVO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is REX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with R and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 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.