WSJ Crossword hints and answers for October 16, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across67
Down73
TitleOn the Wrong Track
Today’s WSJ Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
1A
Seacrest succeeded him (5)
Starts with S, ends with KSAJAK→
6A
Univ., e.g. (3)
Starts with S, ends with HSCH→
9A
Wire nail (4)
Starts with B, ends with DBRAD→
13A
Idiomatic sticking points (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCRAWS→
18A
Degrade (5)
Starts with A, ends with EABASE→
19A
Overly (3)
Starts with T, ends with OTOO→
20A
Quebec neighbor (5)
Starts with M, ends with EMAINE→
21A
Anne of “Donnie Brasco” (5)
Starts with H, ends with EHECHE→
22A
Awkward party song to play for Rumpelstiltskin? (Destiny’s Child) (9)
Starts with S, ends with ESAYMYNAME→
24A
Unaided (5)
Starts with A, ends with EALONE→
26A
Member of a destructive colony (7)
Starts with T, ends with ETERMITE→
27A
Awkward party song to play for Jack and Jill? (Culture Club) (12)
Starts with I, ends with AILLTUMBLE4YA→
29A
Like many hard cheeses (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAGED→
30A
Neckline choice (3)
Starts with V, ends with EVEE→
31A
High habitat (5)
Starts with A, ends with EAERIE→
32A
Awkward party song to play for the Big Bad Wolf? (The Commodores) (10)
Starts with B, ends with EBRICKHOUSE→
37A
Swinton of “Doctor Strange” (5)
Starts with T, ends with ATILDA→
39A
To’s partner (3)
Starts with F, ends with OFRO→
42A
Iconic riveter of WWII (5)
Starts with R, ends with EROSIE→
43A
Oft-hidden cost (3)
Starts with F, ends with EFEE→
44A
Flier from Savasleyka air base (3)
Starts with M, ends with GMIG→
45A
The Pequod, e.g. (6)
Starts with W, ends with RWHALER→
48A
Where preteens can’t sit (7)
Starts with E, ends with WEXITROW→
50A
Awkward party song to play for Captain Hook? (Elton John) (13)
Starts with C, ends with KCROCODILEROCK→
54A
100,000th of a newton (4)
Starts with D, ends with EDYNE→
55A
Dental hygienist’s target (6)
Starts with T, ends with RTARTAR→
57A
Bill in a till (3)
Starts with T, ends with NTEN→
58A
Object of Versailles cheers (5)
Starts with L, ends with ILEROI→
59A
“Carnival of Harlequin” painter (4)
Starts with M, ends with OMIRO→
60A
Pick up (6)
Starts with N, ends with NNEATEN→
62A
Pick up (5)
Starts with L, ends with NLEARN→
63A
Market indicators? (5)
Starts with L, ends with SLISTS→
66A
Awkward party song to play for Pinocchio? (Selena Gomez) (7)
Starts with B, ends with RBADLIAR→
68A
Tripping (5)
Starts with O, ends with DONLSD→
69A
Sister of une mère or eine Mutter (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETANTE→
70A
Sister of Moses (6)
Starts with M, ends with MMIRIAM→
71A
Zaragoza’s river (4)
Starts with E, ends with OEBRO→
73A
Filer’s worry (5)
Starts with A, ends with TAUDIT→
74A
“Blonde” star de Armas (3)
Starts with A, ends with AANA→
75A
Longtime Red Sox anthem (6)
Starts with T, ends with ETESSIE→
77A
Sponge feature (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPORE→
81A
Awkward party song to play for Sleeping Beauty? (Blood, Sweat & Tears) (13)
Starts with S, ends with LSPINNINGWHEEL→
84A
It may take a few minutes (7)
Starts with N, ends with DNOTEPAD→
86A
Washington hub (6)
Starts with S, ends with CSEATAC→
87A
___ Lingus (3)
Starts with A, ends with RAER→
88A
Comfy boots brand (3)
Starts with U, ends with GUGG→
90A
Lift with much effort (5)
Starts with H, ends with EHEAVE→
91A
Direction suffix (3)
Starts with E, ends with NERN→
92A
Eleniak of “Under Siege” (5)
Starts with E, ends with AERIKA→
95A
Awkward party song to play for Humpty Dumpty? (Tom Petty) (10)
Starts with F, ends with NFREEFALLIN→
97A
Catcher’s posture (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSQUAT→
99A
Dr. of hip-hop (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDRE→
102A
Awkward party song to play for Dracula? (Sheryl Crow) (12)
Starts with S, ends with NSOAKUPTHESUN→
106A
Footstool (7)
Starts with H, ends with KHASSOCK→
110A
Weary feeling (5)
Starts with E, ends with IENNUI→
111A
Concert venues (5)
Starts with H, ends with SHALLS→
112A
Awkward party song to play for Frosty the Snowman? (Buster Poindexter) (9)
Starts with H, ends with THOTHOTHOT→
114A
Boxer’s dream (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETITLE→
115A
Razzle-dazzle (5)
Starts with E, ends with TECLAT→
116A
Co. with a Stubs rewards program (3)
Starts with A, ends with CAMC→
117A
Clog-clearing brand (5)
Starts with D, ends with ODRANO→
118A
Long-billed wading bird (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSTILT→
119A
Hoarse voice (4)
Starts with R, ends with PRASP→
120A
Ho-hum (3)
Starts with M, ends with HMEH→
121A
Steer clear of (5)
Starts with D, ends with EDODGE→
Down
1D
Sweden-based carrier (3)
Starts with S, ends with SSAS→
2D
Blind as ___ (4)
Starts with A, ends with TABAT→
3D
Davidson of “The Crying Game” (4)
Starts with J, ends with EJAYE→
4D
Tingling sensation sometimes called a “brain massage” (4)
Starts with A, ends with RASMR→
5D
Access-providing character in the “Matrix” movies (8)
Starts with K, ends with RKEYMAKER→
6D
Open fighting (10)
Starts with S, ends with RSTATEOFWAR→
7D
Need to be paid (7)
Starts with C, ends with ECOMEDUE→
8D
Garden shed tool (3)
Starts with H, ends with EHOE→
9D
Graceful (8)
Starts with B, ends with CBALLETIC→
10D
Barrel of laughs (4)
Starts with R, ends with TRIOT→
11D
Like birthdays but not weddings (6)
Starts with A, ends with LANNUAL→
12D
Considered (6)
Starts with D, ends with DDEEMED→
13D
Cause for alarm at a diner? (5)
Starts with C, ends with ICHILI→
14D
“Hamilton” Tony winner ___ Elise Goldsberry (5)
Starts with R, ends with ERENEE→
15D
When Juliet drinks the potion (4)
Starts with A, ends with 4ACT4→
16D
Ricotta source (4)
Starts with W, ends with YWHEY→
17D
Blood fluids (4)
Starts with S, ends with ASERA→
20D
Like bucks, bulls and billies (4)
Starts with M, ends with EMALE→
23D
Fast approaching (4)
Starts with N, ends with HNIGH→
27D
“Now ___ heard everything!” (3)
Starts with I, ends with EIVE→
28D
Dust-up (5)
Starts with B, ends with LBRAWL→
32D
Like champion racehorses (4)
Starts with B, ends with DBRED→
33D
___ Music (group whose members included Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno) (4)
Starts with R, ends with YROXY→
34D
“The ball ___ your court” (4)
Starts with I, ends with NISIN→
35D
Refer to (4)
Starts with C, ends with ECITE→
36D
Splinter group (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSECT→
38D
“You have to let me!” (6)
Starts with I, ends with AIGOTTA→
39D
Plant groups (6)
Starts with F, ends with SFLORAS→
40D
Groovy music source (6)
Starts with R, ends with DRECORD→
41D
Pest control brand (5)
Starts with O, ends with NORKIN→
44D
“To be continued...” (9)
Starts with M, ends with RMORELATER→
46D
“Over my dead body!” (6)
Starts with H, ends with OHELLNO→
47D
Staggering (5)
Starts with A, ends with LAREEL→
49D
“Safety hoist” inventor (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOTIS→
51D
CNN journalist Kaye (5)
Starts with R, ends with IRANDI→
52D
Some tractors (6)
Starts with D, ends with SDEERES→
53D
Rustic retreat (3)
Starts with I, ends with NINN→
56D
Pregraduation activity (6)
Starts with R, ends with GROBING→
59D
Highest active volcano in Eur. (6)
Starts with M, ends with AMTETNA→
61D
Garcia of “Lucifer” (5)
Starts with A, ends with EAIMEE→
63D
“She Bop” singer Cyndi (6)
Starts with L, ends with RLAUPER→
64D
Madagascar’s ocean (6)
Starts with I, ends with NINDIAN→
65D
Bit of work (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSTINT→
67D
Guiana people (6)
Starts with A, ends with KARAWAK→
68D
Hydrox imitator (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOREO→
69D
Cup, in Calais (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETASSE→
70D
“Yowza!” (3)
Starts with M, ends with NMAN→
72D
What marathon spectators do? (10)
Starts with B, ends with HBINGEWATCH→
76D
Betray intoxication, perhaps (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSLUR→
78D
Shimmery stone (4)
Starts with O, ends with LOPAL→
79D
Sitarist Shankar (4)
Starts with R, ends with IRAVI→
80D
Pristine place (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEDEN→
82D
Freeze over (5)
Starts with I, ends with PICEUP→
83D
“I’m such an idiot!” indicator (8)
Starts with H, ends with PHEADSLAP→
85D
“Curious...” (8)
Starts with T, ends with DTHATSODD→
89D
Pull into the driveway, say (7)
Starts with G, ends with EGETHOME→
93D
Moderately (6)
Starts with R, ends with RRATHER→
94D
Cornell site (6)
Starts with I, ends with AITHACA→
95D
Marshy spot (3)
Starts with F, ends with NFEN→
96D
Bass, e.g. (4)
Starts with F, ends with HFISH→
97D
Jolly Roger feature (5)
Starts with S, ends with LSKULL→
98D
Librarian’s demand (5)
Starts with Q, ends with TQUIET→
100D
Red-brown shade (4)
Starts with R, ends with TRUST→
102D
Hardens (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSETS→
103D
“I got this, Boss!” (4)
Starts with O, ends with TONIT→
104D
Opposed (4)
Starts with A, ends with IANTI→
105D
Building wings (4)
Starts with E, ends with SELLS→
107D
Other, in Acapulco (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOTRO→
108D
Nation south of Libya (4)
Starts with C, ends with DCHAD→
109D
Follower of King or Donkey (4)
Starts with K, ends with GKONG→
112D
Croque-monsieur ingredient (3)
Starts with H, ends with MHAM→
113D
Foot division (3)
Starts with T, ends with ETOE→
How to solve the WSJ Crossword
Fill the grid so every Across and Down answer matches its clue. The title hints at the theme, and on Fridays a final instruction asks for the meta answer. Our answer pages list every clue with its answer behind a reveal button.
Want the full method? Read our WSJ Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the WSJ Crossword on the hub.
WSJ Crossword tips for tomorrow
- Read the title first. WSJ titles are precise. They usually describe exactly how the theme entries are transformed.
- Solve Friday twice. Fill the grid, then look for a pattern in the theme entries that spells or points to the meta answer.
- Learn the editor's style. Mike Shenk favours tight wordplay. A clue that seems too literal probably has a second reading.
Done for today? Try NYT Crossword, LA Times Crossword, Newsday Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous WSJ Crossword puzzles
WSJ Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the WSJ Crossword for October 16, 2026?+
140 clues: 67 Across and 73 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Brad Wiegmann and edited by Mike Shenk.
What are some answers in today’s WSJ Crossword?+
For example: Seacrest succeeded him (SAJAK); Univ., e.g. (SCH); Wire nail (BRAD).
Who edits the WSJ Crossword?+
Mike Shenk has edited the Wall Street Journal Crossword since its launch.
Where can I find past WSJ Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all answers and a page per clue.
