WSJ Crossword September 22, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 22, 2026, “Car Talk,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Fred Raker & Jeremy Lieberman with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is SHIFTTHEFOCUS at 13 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 PSALM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is SPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Across is MAP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Across is RUNOUT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
14 Across is EIRE, 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 ELI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with E and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is ESTATE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Across is CALM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 8. It begins with C and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
19 Across is TAX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with T and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is SHIFTTHEFOCUS, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
23 Across is SIC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Across is ROD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Across is EGGON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is LEAVEALEGACY, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
32 Across is SLIM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Across is DIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Across is MTA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with M and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Across is LAIDOUT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with L and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Across is MISDEED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with M and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Across is ORB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is FAB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with F and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Across is TEST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Across is BAREYOURSOUL, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with B and ends with L, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
51 Across is SHAVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Across is EAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
53 Across is LAA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is REACHANACCORD, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with R and ends with D, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Across is OUI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Across is ROOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is MOANED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with M and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
65 Across is DNA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with D and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Across is NOSH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with N and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is APPEAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
68 Across is DON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
69 Across is TEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
70 Across is TERSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is PRESS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
2 Down is SUSHI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is ANTIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is LOAF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with L and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is MUTT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is SECEDED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
7 Down is PIAF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with P and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ARLO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is METSGAMES, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M 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.
10 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is PIX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is TETRA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Down is EMCEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Down is HOV, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with H and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
22 Down is UGG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with U and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Down is OCTET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is NYAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with N and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is LID, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Down is EMO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Down is AIM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Down is LEI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Down is SARAH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with S and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is LIBRARIAN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with L and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
36 Down is LOBS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. 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.
37 Down is UFO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is TAU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with T and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Down is STU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Down is DEL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Down is BREATHE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Down is EVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Down is YEARN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is SAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Down is ORAMA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is LONER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is AREAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with A 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.
55 Down is ADDLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is COOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is HOSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is COPT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is CAPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is ODD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is UNO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 36 Across and 42 Down entries, with 45 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.