WSJ Crossword September 20, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 20, 2026, “Chill Out,” is a Sunday puzzle by Kevin Christian & Andrea Carla Michaels with 80 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is MARRIAGEPENALTY 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 SHOTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. 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.
6 Across is PERP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
10 Across is ZIP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with Z and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is TOURED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with T and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
15 Across is ERIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is EDU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is ONTIME, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Across is NAMEDROP, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 8. It begins with N and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
20 Across is IDO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Across is PLAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with P and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
23 Across is VIOLA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with V and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is CAFFEINEFREE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters.
28 Across is URSA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Across is LID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is WAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Across is SCARF, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
36 Across is KID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with K and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Across is CENT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Across is MARRIAGEPENALTY, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
42 Across is ORGY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Across is LAY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is INDEX, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with I and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is GEO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is DATA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is THEGOODPLACE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with T and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
54 Across is SOUSA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Across is ACAI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Across is CHE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with C and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Across is KICKBACK, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with K and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
62 Across is MCKEAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
64 Across is ILL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with I and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Across is BLUE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is SKILLS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
67 Across is TSA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
68 Across is YARN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
69 Across is SNAKY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is STOIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
2 Down is HONDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is OUTOF, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with F, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is TRI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is SEMPERFI, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with S and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
6 Down is PENNE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is RIM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is PEEVED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with P and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ZERO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with Z and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is PUPA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Down is DELIS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. 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.
19 Down is DIE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Down is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Down is FURRY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with F and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
26 Down is FLIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with F and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is RIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is WELD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with W and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
31 Down is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Down is STYX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with S and ends with X, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is SMOG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Down is CARE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is ARGO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is KEY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with K and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
37 Down is CANAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with C and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Down is ALOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is GANG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with G and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Down is NITPICKS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with N and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
46 Down is SHABBY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
47 Down is DOC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with D and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Down is ADAMS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is TSK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with T and ends with K, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Down is OAKEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is ACELA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is CHALK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with C and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
53 Down is EENSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is SKIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is OILS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is UCLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is CUR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is KIN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with K and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 43 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.