WSJ Crossword September 27, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 27, 2026, “Depicture,” is a Sunday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 74 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 STANDANDDELIVER 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 RAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ALOFT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is RASH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with R and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ELLA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is GABOR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with G and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is EPEE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is EDAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is ATONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is APEX, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is DAYOFTHEDEAD, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with D and ends with D, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
23 Across is AAH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with A and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is LIMES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with L 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.
27 Across is STANDANDDELIVER, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 15 letters.
34 Across is OILS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is ARES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is TACH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with T and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
37 Across is FLA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with F and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Across is MOONS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with M 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.
39 Across is DUO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Across is TENS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is AMOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is KERN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with K and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Across is CROCODILEDUNDEE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 7 vowels among its 15 letters.
48 Across is SNOOP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Across is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is THREEDMOVIES, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with T and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
57 Across is SHOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Across is OUTON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Across is IDLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is KIWI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with K and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is PRATE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is SEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is ISLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is SOLED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is HAND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with H and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is REED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ALDA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is PLAY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is SAMOANS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is AGATHA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is LATH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with L and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is OBOE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is FOND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with F and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is TREELESS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is READMIT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is APP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Down is SEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
13 Down is HEX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with H and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is FAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with F and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Down is AIL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
25 Down is EVADED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with E and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Down is SECURE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Down is SOFTC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
28 Down is TILERS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with T 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.
29 Down is ALANON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Down is NAOMI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with N and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is DROOL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with D and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is DENSE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is RHONE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is MADPROPS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
41 Down is SCOTTIE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is KNAVISH, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with K and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is OOH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Down is DAMNED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with D and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is UNO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Down is EURO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is ETAL, 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. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
53 Down is DOTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is IDEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ELAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is SEND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is SKI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is HIS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is OWL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with O and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 35 Across and 39 Down entries, with 42 black squares and 9 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.