WSJ Crossword September 24, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 24, 2026, “Madame X,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is THREETIMESALADY 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 EGAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with E and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is GNU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with G and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Across is GAVEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with G and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Across is DALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is TAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with T 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.
15 Across is OLIVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is AGER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
17 Across is ITBE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is DICES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. 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 Across is MACBETH, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with M and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
21 Across is DIVEST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Across is YALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with Y and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is RAVES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R 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.
24 Across is LEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with L and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Across is GERBERA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with G and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
29 Across is QUE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with Q and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is ATOLL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is ANT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is AUNG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is THREETIMESALADY, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
40 Across is HALT, a 4-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 4 letters.
41 Across is ORB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with O and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is LEDUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with L and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is END, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is SPOILED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
47 Across is SET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is AGAIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Across is EVER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is CITRIC, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with C and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
54 Across is MOROCCO, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with M and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
58 Across is ASLAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is BOOK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with B and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is LOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with L and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is SLANT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
63 Across is ARNE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is LODE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is TESTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T 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.
66 Across is TOY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
67 Across is SPAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is EDAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with E and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is GAGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with G and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is ALEC, a 4-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 4 letters.
4 Down is DERBY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
5 Down is GATHER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with G and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is NOB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is USE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is GODIVA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with G and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is ALIVE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is VICESQUADS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with V and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
11 Down is EVES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. 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.
12 Down is LEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Down is TITLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Down is EAGLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Down is DARTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
23 Down is RENE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is LATHE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ETHAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is WORLDATLAS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with W and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
28 Down is BAMBI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with B and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is UNDUE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is EGYPT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
33 Down is LET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Down is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is TOPIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with T and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is IRON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is ALDER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Down is SAINTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is LEMONY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is EVOKE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is GRANT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
51 Down is ROLLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
52 Down is CAST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
53 Down is ISLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is COOP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with C and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is CODA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is OMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is BAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is ORO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
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.