WSJ Crossword September 10, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 10, 2026, “What Are You Waiting For?,” 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 ANTIPROTON 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 AGO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Across is STOUT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Across is TRAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Across is HIPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with H 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.
15 Across is CORFU, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with C and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is VILE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with V and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is ANTIPROTON, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is COPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. 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.
20 Across is BASETANS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with B 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.
21 Across is EARTHA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is TENS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Across is RUMI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is ALPERT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is JUPITER, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with J and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
31 Across is SIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is OOZED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with O and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is SITED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is TARP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Across is NITER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is CHAI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with C and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is AROAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is PERES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
45 Across is ACE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is STLOUIS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Across is JAUNTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with J 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.
50 Across is ISNT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with I and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Across is SOWN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
52 Across is THAMES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is ELITISTS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
59 Across is HILO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is APRICOTPIT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
62 Across is ESPN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
63 Across is FORCE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is SAKE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is ETSY, 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.
66 Across is ESSES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is TIP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is AHAB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is GINA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with G and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is OPTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is SCRANTON, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is TOONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is ORTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with O 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.
7 Down is UFO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is TUNEUP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is TVCRITIC, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is RIOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is ALPH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
12 Down is MESA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Down is SIETE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 4. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is PTERO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is AMIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is RUDER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ASTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is LIARS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is PEROT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is JETES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with J 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.
29 Down is ETHAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is REACT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
33 Down is ZIPIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with Z and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is DIES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is PALIMONY, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
39 Down is REJOICES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with R and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
42 Down is ROSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Down is SAWTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Down is UNSAFE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
49 Down is UNITS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is SLICE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is THEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is HIST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is ALPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ERRS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with E 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.
56 Down is SPAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is TIKI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is STEP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Down is POS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 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.