WSJ Crossword September 15, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 15, 2026, “Compendium,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels & Mike Torch with 76 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 MEDIUMSCHOOL at 12 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 THAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is STENT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Across is CAFE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is REBA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is KUDOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with K and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is EXAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with E and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is ATOM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is IMUST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is LENT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is MEDIUMSCHOOL, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with M and ends with L, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
23 Across is PRELL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
24 Across is RUMPOT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is SOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S 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.
29 Across is TEDIUMTALKS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with T and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
34 Across is ADULT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is STORK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
36 Across is BASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Across is SPIES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with S 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.
42 Across is ETAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
43 Across is MCCOY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
45 Across is LARVA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is WHALEPODIUM, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with W and ends with M, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
49 Across is QBS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with Q and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
52 Across is SENIOR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Across is MAURA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is THEOLDSODIUM, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with T and ends with M, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
60 Across is SULU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is SLOOP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is ONTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is PROD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with P and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is ELOPE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ROES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is TAMED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Across is NASA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is TRAMPS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
2 Down is HETERO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with H and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
3 Down is ABODES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is TAMIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is SKIM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is TUMS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is EDUC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is NOSH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with N and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is TSTORM, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
10 Down is CELLMATE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
11 Down is AXE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is FAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with F and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is EMT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is ULTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is OUTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O 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.
25 Down is PLOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is OKRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is TSKS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
30 Down is EDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with E 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.
31 Down is DUPLO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is ILIAD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with I and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is UTERI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with U and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
36 Down is BMWS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
37 Down is ACHE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is SCAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is SOLITUDE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
41 Down is SVU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with S and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Down is YEOH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is AMMO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is PRESET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is QUINOA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with Q and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is BRUTES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with B 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.
51 Down is SAMOSA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
54 Down is ADORN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is OLLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is LOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with L and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is DOPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is SPED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is SPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is URN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with U and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is LOT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 35 Across and 41 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.