WSJ Crossword September 14, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 14, 2026, “Simply Dashing,” is a Monday puzzle by Grant Conley with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is EXPRESSFEELINGS 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 PAPA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is CIGARS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C 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.
11 Across is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is AGRI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ONESIE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is PRO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with P and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is ZOOMMEETING, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with Z and ends with G, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
19 Across is HAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is MEADS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 3. It begins with M 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.
21 Across is SALINE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is EXPRESSFEELINGS, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
27 Across is MET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is ELM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with E and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is EXES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with E 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.
30 Across is ODESSA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Across is IAMBS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Across is RUNNINGMATE, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with R and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
40 Across is CLANG, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with C and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Across is ATONES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is MASK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with M and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is CAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with C and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is VET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with V and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is IMMEDIATEFAMILY, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 7 vowels among its 15 letters.
56 Across is STARIN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
57 Across is DALES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. 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.
58 Across is ERR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Across is SPEEDDATING, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with S and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
64 Across is RAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Across is CURDLE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
66 Across is ROBE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is SKY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
68 Across is STATES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with S 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.
69 Across is ONCE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is PAZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is AGO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is PROMPTER, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
4 Down is AIMER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is COEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is INESSE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is GET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is ASI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is RINSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is SEGAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is SPHINX, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with S and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
12 Down is ORANGE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is NOLESS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with N 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.
18 Down is MAE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Down is LIESTO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with L and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Down is EMO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Down is XED, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with X and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is FLINGAT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with F and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Down is EMAG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with E and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
31 Down is SUCKER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Down is SNL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with S and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Down is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is MMA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with M and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is BAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is INCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is ENVISION, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with E and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
42 Down is EEL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 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.
44 Down is MISERS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom 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.
45 Down is AMTRAK, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with A and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is SMARMY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
48 Down is MEDDLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is DISCS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with D 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.
52 Down is INPUT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is FADES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with F and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
55 Down is METRO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Down is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is EDT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is NBC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with N and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is GEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 33 Across and 41 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.