WSJ Crossword September 13, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 13, 2026, “Scratch Pads,” is a Sunday puzzle by Justin Werfel with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is SHAKESHACK 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 BOBA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is MALTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is LADS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with L 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.
14 Across is TOES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ASLAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is OLEO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is SHAKESHACK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is ULNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is GOSH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 3. It begins with G and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
21 Across is MILO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is TIN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Across is SALUT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is WATERSHED, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with W and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
28 Across is ONETOGO, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with O and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
30 Across is BOARS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with B 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.
31 Across is WAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is OKS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with O 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.
34 Across is AINTSO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
35 Across is SEASHANTY, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
38 Across is OSMOND, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
41 Across is ELK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with E and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is CDS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with C and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
45 Across is FAINT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with F and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is OHSHOOT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
49 Across is FINGERHUT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with F and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
53 Across is HASTY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Across is EDY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
55 Across is REOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is SALT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Across is RIAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is ROUGHHOUSE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with R and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
63 Across is EDNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is EMIL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is DOSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is NYLON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with N and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
68 Across is SERF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is BTS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
2 Down is OOH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is BEAGLES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is ASKOUT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is MASH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with M and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is ASH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is LLAMA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is TACIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is ANKLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is LOU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with L and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is ALLTHAT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is DENIERS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with D and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is SOANDSO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
18 Down is ESTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is ORBIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is SOW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
26 Down is WOKS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with W 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.
27 Down is SONY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is GOAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with G and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is ANKH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Down is SONG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
36 Down is ENTER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is ALOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is OFFERED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Down is SAIDIDO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with S and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Down is MINYANS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with M 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.
42 Down is COSTUME, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is DOT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Down is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is SHAH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Down is HALOES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with H and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
50 Down is RERAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is HOOTY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is USUAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with U and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is SHIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is NAE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is GRO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with G and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is SIR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is ELF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with E and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.