WSJ Crossword September 7, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 7, 2026, “Leaders,” is a Monday puzzle by Aidan Deshong 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 ARTHURASHE at 10 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 GEARS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is SHOO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is IMPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. 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.
14 Across is RANAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is TOON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is CART, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
17 Across is ARTHURASHE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is OMAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is VAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with V and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is BERT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Across is INDIA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is ICES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Across is AZIZANSARI, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with A and ends with I, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
28 Across is THRILL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with T and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
30 Across is LEWD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
31 Across is NIT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is YESNO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is KETO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with K and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is PIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Across is ALAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is ALDA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. This is a cross-reference clue, so solve the referenced entry first.
39 Across is CHI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with C and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Across is LEIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with L 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.
43 Across is INSTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
47 Across is MIA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
48 Across is STEP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
49 Across is UNSEAT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with U and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is ANSELADAMS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
53 Across is YELL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with Y and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Across is RETRY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
55 Across is DADA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Across is AMEN, a 4-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 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
59 Across is ALPHAMALES, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
62 Across is CANS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with C 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.
63 Across is DIRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is PASSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is ASST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is SHOTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S 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.
Down
1 Down is GRAVITY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
2 Down is EARACHE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is ANTLERS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
4 Down is RAH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with R and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is STUB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is STARZ, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
7 Down is HOSTILE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with H and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
8 Down is OOH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is ONE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Down is ICONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is MAMDANI, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is PRAIRIE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is STRAIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Down is REAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with R and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is IND, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with I and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is SINAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with S and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is ZETAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with Z 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 Down is AWOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
29 Down is LOL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with L and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is KNEED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with K and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
34 Down is PANSY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
36 Down is ALTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is DIN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is CINEMAS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with C and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
40 Down is HASTENS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is IPADPRO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is SEEALSO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with S and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is TALLEST, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is ATLASES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
47 Down is MARACA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is SLY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
49 Down is USDA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is ERNST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
52 Down is MAHER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is AMPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Down is ADO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is LID, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is AAH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with A and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 40 Across and 38 Down entries, with 35 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.