WSJ Crossword September 8, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 8, 2026, “All Aboard!,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Jerry Miccolis with 78 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 SCHOLARSHIP at 11 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 CHAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is TMAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is ABIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Across is PHONO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is RIFT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Across is CAME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is SOFTLAUNCH, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
18 Across is ELAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is APSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is RTE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with R and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is PRIGS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with P 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.
22 Across is LST, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with L and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Across is SCHOLARSHIP, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with S and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Across is MARIAH, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with M and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is UNO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
29 Across is ANO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Across is SWANK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
31 Across is AFRO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is DIET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is HEADLINER, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with H and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
37 Across is CORD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Across is GLAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with G and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Across is WISPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with W 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.
45 Across is ICE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is AAA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is REPEAT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Across is NAILCLIPPER, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with N and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
52 Across is AYE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
53 Across is ERNIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is RUN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with R and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
55 Across is ISON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is MISO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is STAGECRAFT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
60 Across is ANIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is ACME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is GOLFS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
63 Across is SANS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is DUST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with D and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
65 Across is INTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. 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.
Down
1 Down is CHOPSAW, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with C and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
2 Down is HOFSTRA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is POL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is TRUTH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Down is MINEO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with M and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is AFC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is NTH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with H, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is ACERS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A 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.
10 Down is BALIHAI, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is IMAGINE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is TENSPOT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is PSALMS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
17 Down is ARCH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with A and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
21 Down is PRO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with P and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Down is SAKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is LURID, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with L and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ANON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is INHD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with I and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
31 Down is ADLAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is FLA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with F and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is DRIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with D and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Down is AGAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is EWER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is CINEMAS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. 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.
38 Down is OCARINA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with O and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Down is REINSIN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with R and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is SEASALT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is PAYOFFS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
44 Down is STENTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
46 Down is ACE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
47 Down is RENE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Down is LIONS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is PRAMS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with P 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 PUGET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is IRON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is SAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is TCU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with T and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is CGI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with C and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. 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.