WSJ Crossword September 21, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 21, 2026, “Variety Pack,” is a Monday puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is PARTYPEOPLE at 11 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 SLAB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is SATAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is PRO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with P and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is NORA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is TRACT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
15 Across is LAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is LOFTYPERCH, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with L and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters.
18 Across is ORAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is BREAST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
20 Across is INTRO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
21 Across is REPOST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is SAGGY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
26 Across is ITRY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Across is ELS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right 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.
30 Across is CUSPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with C 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.
32 Across is CHESS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C 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.
34 Across is AKITA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Across is ONT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Across is TYPESIN, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Across is OSO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Across is HIT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is AUDIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is ALPHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is CYNIC, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with C and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
48 Across is NOB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is OLES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is PARKS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
53 Across is INVEST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is STEMS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, 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.
57 Across is NEWBIE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
60 Across is TUNE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is NOVELTYPEN, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with N and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
65 Across is INNS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. 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.
66 Across is BRINE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is OTTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is RAY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
69 Across is CELTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
70 Across is USED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with U and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is SNL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
2 Down is LOO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is ARF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is BATBOYS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
5 Down is STPETE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is AREA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is TARS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ACCTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A 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.
9 Down is NTH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with H, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is PARTYPEOPLE, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
11 Down is ROAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is OSLO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Down is LONGS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L 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.
17 Down is YRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with Y 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.
20 Down is IGUANA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Down is RICOH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with R and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is ETHNIC, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Down is PRETTYPENNY, a 11-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 11 letters.
25 Down is ACTI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is LAPD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is SKEIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is SASHES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with S 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.
33 Down is STAIRS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with S 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.
35 Down is ISTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is ROAST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Down is YUCK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with Y and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Down is LOVEYOU, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with L and ends with U, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Down is NAMES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with N and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is BIBLES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
52 Down is SNORE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is NIT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
55 Down is STIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is TUNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is EVIL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is WENT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Down is NBC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with N and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is PTS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is ETE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Down is NOD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with N and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.