WSJ Crossword September 2, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 2, 2026, “Success Story,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 78 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 BIGAMISTS at 9 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 CAB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is DELL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Across is SHAVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
13 Across is AGO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
14 Across is ALEUT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is LONER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is BIGAMISTS, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is OTTER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is ALIBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is SEABED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is LEERED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with L and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Across is AGORAS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
29 Across is UNIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with U and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
31 Across is ABIGAIL, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
32 Across is CLIP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Across is GUNMEN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with G and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
37 Across is MOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Across is AUNT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is LEI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Across is TILT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Across is LIC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with L and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is ARIANA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Across is ASIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is EGOTRIP, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Across is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Across is BIGHTS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with B 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.
51 Across is ACTUAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is WEEKLY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with W and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
59 Across is TANGO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is ATEAM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is GOOVERBIG, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with G and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
65 Across is MAORI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with M and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is BIGOT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ATE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
68 Across is PUNTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with P 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.
69 Across is SAWS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 8. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
70 Across is GAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is CABAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is AGILE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is BOGIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is DAMIEN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with D and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is ELI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with E and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is LESS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is LUTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is SLOEGIN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
9 Down is HOTDOG, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with H and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ANT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
11 Down is VEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with V and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is ERR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
15 Down is TSA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 9. It begins with T and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
18 Down is ABRUPT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is BABE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is DIG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Down is RAMIS, 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.
27 Down is AIOLI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with A and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is SLOTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with S 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.
30 Down is TULIP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with T and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is AMINO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is CALEB, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is LUIGI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with L and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is INCOG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with I and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is NEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Down is TARTAR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
42 Down is ARTEMIS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is RISE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Down is ADA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is THWART, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
49 Down is OCTETS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with O 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.
52 Down is UNBAG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with U and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is AGITA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is LOGES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is KGB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with K and ends with B, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Down is LOIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is YOGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is AMP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is TAU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with T and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is EON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Down is VOW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with V and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 42 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.