WSJ Crossword September 29, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 29, 2026, “Switching Seats,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Ella Dershowitz with 72 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 MAGNOLIATREES 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 ASP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is POPBAND, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
11 Across is MAA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
14 Across is CPR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
15 Across is FORESEE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with F and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
16 Across is UMM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with U and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
17 Across is CLAWFOOTTUB, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with B, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
19 Across is DOI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
20 Across is LETAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is RETIRED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with R and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
23 Across is ANIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is OSCARSNUBS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
27 Across is IDNO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
28 Across is LLM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with L and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
29 Across is GNAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Across is MAGNOLIATREES, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
35 Across is PIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is HAM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with H and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Across is WATERAEROBICS, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with W and ends with S, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters.
44 Across is LOOP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with L and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is LIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is YMHA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Across is EMUBURGERS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
52 Across is LIAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with L and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is MENSREA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
54 Across is SATIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is OLD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Across is ASSBACKWARD, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
60 Across is NEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Across is LASALLE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
62 Across is TEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Across is YTD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with D, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Across is STYMIED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
65 Across is EDY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is ACCLAIM, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
2 Down is SPLENDA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is PRATING, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is PFFT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is OOO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is PRO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with P and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is BET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is ASTRA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is NEUER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is DEBTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with D 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.
11 Down is MUDRUNS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is AMOEBA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is AMIDST, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Down is WASON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with W and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is INGE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is OLLIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is SLIER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is CMA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with C and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is OPT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with O and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is THEIR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is RARES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. 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.
34 Down is EMO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
37 Down is WOUNDED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with W and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
38 Down is APBS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with A 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.
39 Down is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Down is BYLAW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with B and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
41 Down is IMITATE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is CHAIRED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with C and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is SAMEDAY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is LEMONY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is OMELET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is URALS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is RESAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
51 Down is GASSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with G and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Down is SKED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
57 Down is BAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with B and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is CLE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with C and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 34 Across and 38 Down entries, with 39 black squares and 19 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.