WSJ Crossword September 28, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 28, 2026, “Command Performance,” is a Monday puzzle by Peter A. Collins 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 SPEAKOFTHEDEVIL 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 BATHE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
6 Across is ALIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is SHOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is AREAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. 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.
15 Across is MANO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is CODA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is STAYCLASSY, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is APES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is EYRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is ELS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, 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.
22 Across is AMPLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is SITFORASPELL, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with S and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
27 Across is WIZ, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with W and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is MOI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Across is UPPED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with U and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is AMOCO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is ASS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is RODE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
38 Across is SPEAKOFTHEDEVIL, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with S and ends with L, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
42 Across is PSST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is LAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with L and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is IDEAL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with I and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is ATEAM, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with A and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is PEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with P and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is RNA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with R and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is ROLLOVERIRAS, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
54 Across is ALDEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is OCT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Across is HDTV, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with H and ends with V, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is SLAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Across is SHAKELOOSE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
64 Across is PINE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is EARL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is ARGOT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is SEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is ELSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is GESSO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is BASE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ARTY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is TEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is HAYES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is ESC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is AMALFI, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is LASSO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is INS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I 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.
9 Down is TOY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is SCAMPERED, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
11 Down is HOPPEDOVER, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with H and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
12 Down is ODELL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is EASEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
18 Down is LETO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is ASP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is IMOK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with I and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is RUSH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with R and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is APSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is WASP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with W and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is IMPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. 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.
29 Down is ZOESALDANA, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with Z and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
33 Down is CATTLEMEN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with C and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
34 Down is ATM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Down is DIAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with D and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is ELLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is OLAV, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with O and ends with V, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is FAME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is DINA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Down is EON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Down is PICKLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
48 Down is ERTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is RASPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with R 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.
51 Down is OLLIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is ROARS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is SHORE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is DOGS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
58 Down is TSOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Down is VETO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with V and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is SEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is HAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is LAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with L and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 36 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.