WSJ Crossword September 3, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 3, 2026, “We’re Here to Help,” is a Thursday puzzle by Matt Gaffney 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 AVENGERSENDGAME 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 NET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is OLPAL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Across is INST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Across is ODIC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is PARSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is OATH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is VIVAZAPATA, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with V and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is UBER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
20 Across is ATONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is ADANG, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with A and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is ONO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is WHATABOUTBOB, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with W and ends with B, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
27 Across is TWEENS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. 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.
30 Across is NAH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with N and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is BAD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is HAUL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is RULER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is AVENGERSENDGAME, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
44 Across is RENEE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is META, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is KID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with K and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is IND, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with I and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is POSERS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with P 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 IDANIELBLAKE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters.
58 Across is KOI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with K and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Across is ENERO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is RANDO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is NUDE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is ADAPTATION, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
68 Across is OLAY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is DINER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Across is SLOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
71 Across is WANE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
72 Across is ANDRE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
73 Across is EMS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. 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.
Down
1 Down is NOVA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is EDIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is TIVO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is OPA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
5 Down is LAPAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is PRADA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ASTAB, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is LEANON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with L and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is IOU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is NABOB, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with N and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is STENO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is THROB, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Down is CANWE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 4. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is ZEHN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with Z and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Down is GUARD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with G and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ASHE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is THUG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is TBAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is WAVE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is EDEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is ARM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is USE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is LET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is LAKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is EMIR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is REDS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with R 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 Down is NEIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with N and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is GENIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with G and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is NAPA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is DENADA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with D and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is OKRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is SEATS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with S 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.
52 Down is IKNOW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with I and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is DOULA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with D and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is AIDAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is LEDIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is BRAND, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
57 Down is LOPER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Down is NILE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is DOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with D and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Down is ONES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with O 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.
65 Down is EYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
67 Down is TRE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 35 Across and 43 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.