WSJ Crossword September 17, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 17, 2026, “Whatever Works,” is a Thursday puzzle by Matt Gaffney with 78 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 TIPSAPPRECIATED 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 HIJAB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with H and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is PLOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ATMS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A 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 ITELL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is EERO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is BRUH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with B and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
17 Across is RAWFOOTAGE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is OISE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ELEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is ORR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with O and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Across is IMBED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is ROLL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with R and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Across is PINNUMBERS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
27 Across is FTS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with F 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.
29 Across is ISPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with I 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.
30 Across is SPEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is ALMA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is APE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Across is TIPSAPPRECIATED, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with D, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
41 Across is YEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Across is ILER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is RITZY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
44 Across is IPOD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is ISR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with I and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is MOODSWINGS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
51 Across is PORT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Across is ANNIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Across is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Across is OMOO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Across is ZERO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with Z and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is WONINAWALK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with W and ends with K, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
62 Across is DIEM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with D and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is IVAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is BERLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is ALDA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is LAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is ERROR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is HIRER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is ITALO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is JEWEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with J and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
4 Down is ALFALFAS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A 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.
5 Down is BLO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with B and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is PETRI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with P and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is LEARN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is ORG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with O and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is TOE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is ABOMBS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. 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.
11 Down is TRIBE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is MUSER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is SHEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
18 Down is OOPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is IMPAIRS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
25 Down is NILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is USMC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with U and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is TRAIPSE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
30 Down is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Down is PIE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Down is EPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Down is ARR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is ATT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Down is PEZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with P and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is EDY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Down is PLOW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with P and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is PEDI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with P and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is AIRPOWER, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with A and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
44 Down is IDIOMA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with I and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is ISIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is MAZDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Down is ONEIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with O and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is ONRED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with O and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is NANAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with N 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.
50 Down is GLINT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
52 Down is OMARR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is ROLLO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is TOKER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Down is WIL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with W and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is OVA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is ABE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 40 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.