WSJ Crossword October 8, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for October 8, 2026, “Endless Discussion,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is EMERYCLOTH 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 ALLIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is COPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is EMMA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is SEENO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ERIC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is GAIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is EMERYCLOTH, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is ONTV, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ASSUCH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Across is OCTET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is SEALS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
27 Across is DOH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with D and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is FAIRYRINGS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with F and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
34 Across is BOL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with B and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is ETNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is SPIRE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Across is AVID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is SINKS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Across is SCAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is NEVIL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is NEIL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is KIT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is CRAZYHORSE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
48 Across is GSN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with G and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
49 Across is ZOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with Z and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is SHADY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
52 Across is GWYNN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with G and ends with N, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is ZOMBIE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with Z and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
58 Across is SIRI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is SPADEPRESS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
63 Across is GLEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with G and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is HIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is EATIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with E and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is TANG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is UCSF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with U and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
68 Across is STAND, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is ASEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is LEMS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is LEES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is INRUSH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with I and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is NOYCE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is CEL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with C and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is ORO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is PIT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is ECHOEY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is EGOTRIPS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is MANE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is MITT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ATV, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Down is CHAFES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is CARS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with C 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.
24 Down is LATINO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with L and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Down is SINNERS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
27 Down is DOVER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is OLIVA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is RAKISH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with R and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Down is NICKS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
32 Down is GRAIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with G and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is SENT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Down is BANC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with B and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is DIZZYING, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with D and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
40 Down is SLEAZE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
43 Down is LYON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with L and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Down is HONSHU, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with H and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is GYMRAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
51 Down is DOPES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with D 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.
52 Down is GILA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with G and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is WREN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with W and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is BETA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is ISIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is ESTD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
58 Down is SGT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is PIC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with P and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. 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.
62 Down is DEF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with D and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 44 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
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.