WSJ Crossword September 23, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 23, 2026, “Heightened Awareness,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Joseph Gangi with 74 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 STRESSBALLS 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 BASH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is OLDER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is ASK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is OMNI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is GIMME, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is RAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with R and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
16 Across is IBIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
17 Across is PRESET, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Across is UNI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with U and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
19 Across is LIFTTHEV, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with L and ends with V, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
21 Across is RAILAT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is FORD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with F and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Across is RAISEAS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Across is STRESSBALLS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 11 letters.
28 Across is SEEYA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Across is HARD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with H and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Across is AIDA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is HAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is TOELESS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with T 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.
38 Across is NON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with N and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Across is EMTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E 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.
41 Across is PASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is ACTON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is ELEVATETHEM, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with E and ends with M, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
47 Across is SCALENE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
50 Across is TEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Across is QUALMS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with Q 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 Across is PENDULUM, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with P and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
56 Across is URN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with U and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is UPTHEA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with U and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
59 Across is COKE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is AID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Across is ROWEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with R and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is EPEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is DEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with D and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is STOWS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
65 Across is REST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is BOIL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is AMBI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is SNIFFTEST, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters.
4 Down is HISTORY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is OGRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is LIEV, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with V, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is DMS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with D and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is EMERALDS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E 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.
9 Down is RETAIL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with R and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ARULE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is SANAA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is KNITS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with K 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 PHDS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Down is TREAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is ISSA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is RAREST, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
25 Down is SEAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with S and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is SHEAVE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Down is BALSA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is INTERLOPE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
32 Down is DOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with D and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is ANN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is OPENSPOT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
37 Down is SATED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Down is SELL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Down is CHAUCER, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with C and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is LEMURS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with L 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.
46 Down is ETNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is SQUAD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is CURIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is AANDW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is PHEW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with P and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is EELS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
54 Down is UKES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
55 Down is MEET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is TWO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 37 Across and 37 Down entries, with 40 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.