WSJ Crossword October 7, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 7, 2026, “Going Strong,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Ella Dershowitz with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is DONTMOVEAMUSCLE 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 ORZO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is AGAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A 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.
9 Across is GUY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with G and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Across is BRASS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
13 Across is MOCK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with M and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is LASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Across is AMINO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is ADDY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
17 Across is ALEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is TOLAST, a 6-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 6 letters.
20 Across is ICYSTARE, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
22 Across is TRAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
23 Across is HAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with H and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Across is PEC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with P and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Across is YET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Across is DEB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with D and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is CAPTOR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Across is OSBORNE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
34 Across is AIRY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is DONTMOVEAMUSCLE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
39 Across is ABET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
40 Across is SENDERS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
41 Across is MIXERS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with M 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.
43 Across is INN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with I and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is TWI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with T and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is TRI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with T and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is LAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is QUAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with Q and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Across is STEPONTO, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
54 Across is SLUGGO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
56 Across is XOXO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with X and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is OHOH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is EASEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
60 Across is SKIP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Across is PIES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is SCARS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. 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.
63 Across is WET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is ENYA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is TKTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is ORMORE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is RAILAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is ZSNAP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with Z and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
4 Down is OSOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is AMA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is GODIM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with G and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ACDC, a 4-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 4 letters.
8 Down is SKYY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is GALACTIC, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with G and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is USER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is YSEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with Y and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is BATTY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Down is LATEPASS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
19 Down is THEBOSS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
21 Down is SPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is ABOVE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is DSM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with D and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
28 Down is CEMENTS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
29 Down is ORL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with O and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Down is RYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with R and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is OTTERPOP, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with O and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
32 Down is REN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with R and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is NADIA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with N and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is DAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with D and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is OBI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is NEXTEXIT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with N and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
38 Down is URN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with U and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Down is RIO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Down is TUGSAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is WAGERS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is IDOLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with I 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.
48 Down is LOOEY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is QUACK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with Q and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is SXSW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is TOKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
52 Down is NOPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is THIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is LEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is HSA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with H and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 42 black squares and 20 circled squares that carry the theme. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.