WSJ Crossword September 16, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 16, 2026, “Things Are Looking Up,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Jackson Musker with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is LIGHTNINGROD 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 FOXY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with F and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is GAGS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
9 Across is RATIO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with R and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is ILIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is AVOW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is OVARY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is EDNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is IOWA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is BEZEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with B and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is LIGHTNINGROD, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with L and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters.
23 Across is DESIRED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with D and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
24 Across is ECARDS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is KID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with K and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is OCTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Across is ORE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is AMINO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is STARPUPIL, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
37 Across is TITO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is MOONY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is NEVE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is SNOWCONES, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
42 Across is RISES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with R 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.
43 Across is EDU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Across is LOGS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. 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.
45 Across is MUM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with M and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is ASTROS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with A 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.
48 Across is GETPAST, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
52 Across is EYESINTHESKY, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
55 Across is QUASI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with Q and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Across is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is DOUP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with D and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is USAIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with U and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Across is FOMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with F and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
62 Across is ENNE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is ABANG, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is ALES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
65 Across is DEKE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is FIELD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with F and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
2 Down is OLDIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is XINGS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with X 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.
4 Down is YEAHIKNOW, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with Y and ends with W, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
5 Down is GAINED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with G and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is AVOID, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
7 Down is GOWN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with G and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is SWAG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is ROBOCOP, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with R and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is AVEDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is TAZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with T and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
12 Down is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
13 Down is OYL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is TRIO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is RETRY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ROPES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with R 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.
26 Down is DRIVE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is SELES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is OTOES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
30 Down is CANS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. 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.
32 Down is ATSEA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is MINDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
34 Down is ITOUT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with I and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is SONG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
36 Down is UNIMPEDED, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with U and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
38 Down is MOOSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Down is CLOYING, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with C and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is RUTH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with R and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Down is METROS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is RESIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is GNOME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ASONE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is SKUNK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
51 Down is TYPEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is SOFA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is QUA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with Q and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Down is USB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with U and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Down is AAA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.