WSJ Crossword hints and answers for September 18, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues138
Across67
Down71
TitleGuest Workers
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
Rudimentary seed (5)
Starts with O, ends with EOVULE→
6A
Bad winner, perhaps (7)
Starts with G, ends with RGLOATER→
13A
Share shelter (7)
Starts with C, ends with TCOHABIT→
20A
Three-by-three box in a sudoku puzzle (5)
Starts with N, ends with TNONET→
21A
Bawl out (7)
Starts with R, ends with EREPROVE→
22A
Way back when (7)
Starts with A, ends with OAGESAGO→
23A
Sharply defined paint job? (13)
Starts with T, ends with TTRENCHANTCOAT→
25A
Criticized mercilessly (7)
Starts with T, ends with DTRASHED→
26A
“Give ___ go” (3)
Starts with I, ends with AITA→
27A
Maze walls, perhaps (6)
Starts with H, ends with SHEDGES→
28A
Showed curiosity (5)
Starts with A, ends with DASKED→
30A
Words with discount or disadvantage (3)
Starts with A, ends with AATA→
31A
Private dinner (4)
Starts with M, ends with SMESS→
33A
Like poblano peppers (4)
Starts with M, ends with DMILD→
34A
Where Columbus established his La Navidad settlement (5)
Starts with H, ends with IHAITI→
36A
Put out (4)
Starts with E, ends with TEMIT→
38A
Cross-referencing word (3)
Starts with S, ends with ESEE→
39A
Triangular, soft, flapping in the breeze? (12)
Starts with P, ends with EPENNANTSTATE→
42A
Courser control (4)
Starts with R, ends with NREIN→
44A
Disposable phone (6)
Starts with B, ends with RBURNER→
45A
Sewer scurrier (3)
Starts with R, ends with TRAT→
46A
Song sung by Miss Congeniality? (13)
Starts with P, ends with RPAGEANTNUMBER→
50A
Island nation west of Fiji (7)
Starts with V, ends with UVANUATU→
54A
Rubs the wrong way (5)
Starts with R, ends with SRILES→
55A
Play reviewer (3)
Starts with U, ends with PUMP→
56A
Convinced (4)
Starts with S, ends with DSOLD→
57A
Cacophony (3)
Starts with D, ends with NDIN→
58A
Yard sign verb (5)
Starts with E, ends with TELECT→
59A
Only European Union city to host the Summer Olympics three different years (5)
Starts with P, ends with SPARIS→
61A
Turn outward (5)
Starts with S, ends with YSPLAY→
62A
“The Beverly Hillbillies” role (3)
Starts with J, ends with DJED→
63A
Lewis of “Matlock” (4)
Starts with L, ends with HLEAH→
64A
Occupied apartments? (11)
Starts with T, ends with STENANTSPOTS→
66A
Rise dramatically (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSOAR→
67A
Funerary vase (3)
Starts with U, ends with NURN→
68A
Image Awards org. (5)
Starts with N, ends with PNAACP→
69A
Aspen attire (5)
Starts with P, ends with APARKA→
70A
Not quite right, maybe (5)
Starts with A, ends with EACUTE→
71A
Forest female (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDOE→
72A
Check out creepily (4)
Starts with O, ends with EOGLE→
73A
Drone, e.g. (3)
Starts with B, ends with EBEE→
74A
Hemsworth who plays Thor (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCHRIS→
75A
Back, in a way (7)
Starts with E, ends with EENDORSE→
77A
The very chivalrous Mick Jagger and Keith Richards? (13)
Starts with G, ends with SGALLANTSTONES→
82A
Wellness grp. (3)
Starts with H, ends with OHMO→
83A
Knocked off (6)
Starts with C, ends with DCOPIED→
84A
Louisville’s river (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOHIO→
85A
Unoccupied apartments? (12)
Starts with D, ends with SDORMANTROOMS→
89A
___ gratia (by the grace of God) (3)
Starts with D, ends with IDEI→
90A
Some daily temps (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLOWS→
94A
Platte River people (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOTOS→
95A
Hopper in Hollywood (5)
Starts with H, ends with AHEDDA→
96A
Blanchett with two Oscars (4)
Starts with C, ends with ECATE→
97A
Careless mistake (4)
Starts with S, ends with PSLIP→
98A
Payment promise (3)
Starts with I, ends with UIOU→
99A
Jor-El’s portrayer in 2013’s “Man of Steel” (5)
Starts with C, ends with ECROWE→
101A
Blackbird family member (6)
Starts with O, ends with EORIOLE→
103A
Groom’s words (3)
Starts with I, ends with OIDO→
104A
“That’s cheating!” (7)
Starts with N, ends with RNOTFAIR→
106A
Guy who steadfastly refuses to get help with directions? (13)
Starts with A, ends with RADAMANTDRIVER→
110A
“The Honeymooners” creator (7)
Starts with G, ends with NGLEASON→
111A
Use as a resource (7)
Starts with T, ends with OTAPINTO→
112A
Heavy hitters in Hollywood (5)
Starts with A, ends with TALIST→
113A
Sonnet sections (7)
Starts with S, ends with SSESTETS→
114A
Forty winks (7)
Starts with S, ends with ESHUTEYE→
115A
Grayish (5)
Starts with S, ends with YSLATY→
Down
1D
Punctual (6)
Starts with O, ends with EONTIME→
2D
Whirl of water (6)
Starts with V, ends with XVORTEX→
3D
Discontent (6)
Starts with U, ends with EUNEASE→
4D
Cariou of “Sweeney Todd” (3)
Starts with L, ends with NLEN→
5D
Leave one’s mark on (4)
Starts with E, ends with HETCH→
6D
Illustrator’s color effect (8)
Starts with G, ends with TGRADIENT→
7D
Newbery Medal winner Madeleine (6)
Starts with L, ends with ELENGLE→
8D
Was decisive (5)
Starts with O, ends with DOPTED→
9D
Parentheses, essentially (4)
Starts with A, ends with SARCS→
10D
Excessively (3)
Starts with T, ends with OTOO→
11D
“Creazione di ___” (Sistine fresco) (3)
Starts with E, ends with AEVA→
12D
Lawyer’s fee (8)
Starts with R, ends with RRETAINER→
13D
Willow spike (6)
Starts with C, ends with NCATKIN→
14D
Fairy tale baddie (4)
Starts with O, ends with EOGRE→
15D
Bowler’s place (4)
Starts with H, ends with DHEAD→
16D
Pompous sort (3)
Starts with A, ends with SASS→
17D
“Grand” place near Florida (6)
Starts with B, ends with ABAHAMA→
18D
“Makes sense to me” (6)
Starts with I, ends with TIGETIT→
24D
Surrounds (6)
Starts with H, ends with NHEMSIN→
29D
Michelin reward (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSTAR→
32D
Harsh sound (7)
Starts with S, ends with HSCREECH→
34D
Sage, e.g. (4)
Starts with H, ends with BHERB→
35D
Last Stuart monarch (4)
Starts with A, ends with EANNE→
36D
Question from the betrayed (4)
Starts with E, ends with UETTU→
39D
Fill with, as oxygen (6)
Starts with P, ends with NPUMPIN→
40D
Refrain snippets (6)
Starts with T, ends with STRALAS→
41D
Light yellow-brown (5)
Starts with S, ends with YSANDY→
43D
Toward the sunrise (4)
Starts with E, ends with TEAST→
44D
Complaint from a con (6)
Starts with B, ends with PBUMRAP→
46D
Suite start (7)
Starts with P, ends with EPRELUDE→
47D
Banking device (7)
Starts with A, ends with NAILERON→
48D
Gathered gradually (7)
Starts with G, ends with DGLEANED→
49D
Subtle distinction (6)
Starts with N, ends with ENUANCE→
50D
Battery pioneer Alessandro (5)
Starts with V, ends with AVOLTA→
51D
Recess (7)
Starts with A, ends with NADJOURN→
52D
Most-searched “how to” subject, ahead of “how to kiss” (7)
Starts with T, ends with ETIEATIE→
56D
Like some poetry (6)
Starts with S, ends with NSPOKEN→
59D
Rembrandt who painted Washington and Jefferson (5)
Starts with P, ends with EPEALE→
60D
Letters on many racing cars (3)
Starts with S, ends with PSTP→
61D
Elaborate meal (6)
Starts with S, ends with DSPREAD→
64D
Appends (6)
Starts with T, ends with NTAGSON→
65D
Dark-furred martens (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSABLES→
66D
Defeats decisively (7)
Starts with S, ends with SSCHOOLS→
68D
Bellini opera (5)
Starts with N, ends with ANORMA→
70D
Opera opening (4)
Starts with A, ends with IACTI→
76D
Electrical units (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOHMS→
77D
Diner sign promise (8)
Starts with G, ends with SGOODEATS→
78D
Like two peas in ___ (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAPOD→
79D
Where Pizarro died (4)
Starts with L, ends with ALIMA→
80D
In direct confrontation (8)
Starts with T, ends with ETOETOTOE→
81D
The UPS logo, e.g. (6)
Starts with S, ends with DSHIELD→
83D
Regatta team (4)
Starts with C, ends with WCREW→
85D
What’s happening (6)
Starts with D, ends with SDOINGS→
86D
Peter of “The Lion in Winter” (6)
Starts with O, ends with EOTOOLE→
87D
Bus map depictions (6)
Starts with R, ends with SROUTES→
88D
Lemon tree features (6)
Starts with T, ends with STHORNS→
89D
Elegantly small (6)
Starts with D, ends with YDAINTY→
91D
Countess in “Twelfth Night” (6)
Starts with O, ends with AOLIVIA→
92D
Least narrow (6)
Starts with W, ends with TWIDEST→
93D
Like many convertibles (6)
Starts with S, ends with YSPORTY→
96D
Common origami creation (5)
Starts with C, ends with ECRANE→
99D
Lawyer’s job (4)
Starts with C, ends with ECASE→
100D
Chaotic scene (4)
Starts with R, ends with TRIOT→
102D
Focus of Taylor Swift’s last tour (4)
Starts with E, ends with SERAS→
105D
Lard or suet (3)
Starts with F, ends with TFAT→
107D
Morse code sound (3)
Starts with D, ends with HDAH→
108D
Protagonist of a Satyajit Ray film trilogy (3)
Starts with A, ends with UAPU→
109D
Suffering (3)
Starts with I, ends with LILL→
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 September 18, 2026?+
138 clues: 67 Across and 71 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Mike Shenk and edited by Mike Shenk.
What are some answers in today’s WSJ Crossword?+
For example: Rudimentary seed (OVULE); Bad winner, perhaps (GLOATER); Share shelter (COHABIT).
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.
