WSJ Crossword September 1, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 1, 2026, “Double Team,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Joe Rodini with 75 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 HEATLIGHTNING 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 RIFT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ASWAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is ACDC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is UBER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is DAILY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is BRIO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is BEVY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Across is OLLIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is BEAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with B and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is STEMS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. 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.
22 Across is IDS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with I 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.
23 Across is YOWZA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is REO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is NFT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with N and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
26 Across is ETC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Across is HAD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with H and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is CAGIEST, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with C and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
32 Across is HUT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is ERRS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Across is BERRA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
38 Across is AILS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is HEEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is WREST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Across is LENA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Across is ISAIAH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with I and ends with H, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is TOOFAR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with T and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Across is MOMMIES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Across is DEPOSES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with D and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
49 Across is RELEASE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with R and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
51 Across is HEATLIGHTNING, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with H and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters.
57 Across is TONGA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Across is PAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Across is TOOLS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Across is INDEX, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with I and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is IDI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with I and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Across is ATEAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is MESSI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is NSA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with N and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Across is BALMY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is RUBS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R 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 IBET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is FEVERDREAM, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with F and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
4 Down is TRYME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
5 Down is ADO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is SALINGER, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
7 Down is WILDFIRE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with W and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
8 Down is ALISTERS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
9 Down is NYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is ABBOT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
11 Down is CREWCHIEFS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with C and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
12 Down is DIAZ, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with D and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is CODA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Down is SOC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Down is YET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with Y and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Down is HEHIM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with H and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is ARESO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is ABWHEEL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
31 Down is SATTEST, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
33 Down is ULNAE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is TSARS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with T 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.
36 Down is SLIM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is ALOO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Down is AIRTAXI, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is OPENTAB, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with O and ends with B, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Down is SLIPIN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is DAHLIA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with D and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is EGADS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is HONE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is ENDS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is AGES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is IOTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is NOEL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is GLAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with G and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is TIM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 39 Across and 36 Down entries, with 40 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.