WSJ Crossword September 9, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for September 9, 2026, “Cut The Cards,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Stephan Prock & Jeff Chen with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is TWOPIECESUITS 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 DEFIB, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
6 Across is DANSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Across is BIN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is OMANI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is AREAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is IWO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is HUNTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
18 Across is WORDSALAD, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with W and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
20 Across is OCANADA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with O and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
22 Across is ULNA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is OBIWAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Across is DSTUDENT, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
28 Across is WES, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is YUP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is RITA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is LEAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with L and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Across is BRAVADO, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with B and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
38 Across is TWOPIECESUITS, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with T 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.
42 Across is PRSPEAK, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with P and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Across is NAPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with N 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.
45 Across is LETO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is LOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is LOU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with L and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is GOPUBLIC, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with G and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
54 Across is UPSETS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with U and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
56 Across is EARN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Across is ELECTRA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
59 Across is EDIEFALCO, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with E and ends with O, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters.
61 Across is INSET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is NUN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with N and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Across is ORBIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
67 Across is NAIVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is APT, a 3-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 3 letters.
69 Across is ONELS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with O 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.
70 Across is TAROT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is DOH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is EMU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is FAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with F and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is INTOW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with I and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is BISCAY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is DAWN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
7 Down is AROAD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is NERDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
9 Down is SADAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is ESS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
11 Down is BILLET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
12 Down is IWANNA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is NODAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with N and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Down is AUDIOIN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 7 letters.
21 Down is ANUBIS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Down is OWL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with O and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is BEET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is ISAW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with I and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Down is URDU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with U and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is PREP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with P and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
33 Down is POPTUNE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
35 Down is ACE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Down is VEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with V and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is ASKOUT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
39 Down is PROB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with P and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is TALE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is SPOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Down is SUS, a 3-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 3 letters.
45 Down is LOADUP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with L and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is EPRINT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is SPRINT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
50 Down is GEENA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with G and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is LEARN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is ILLBE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is CECIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with C and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is SANAA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with S and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is COTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is FOO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with F and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is SIR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
63 Down is EVO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Down is TET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 35 Across and 41 Down entries, with 40 black squares and 20 circled squares that carry the theme. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.