The “why” in a whodunit WSJ Crossword Clue

By Narcissa Kh / October 20, 2025

Crossword Answer

1 ? M

2 ? O

3 ? T

4 ? I

5 ? V

6 ? E

Hint

Interactive Solver for The “why” in a whodunit Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 6 Letter

Current guess: —

Letter Pool

Need a helpful nudge?

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Consider what fuels the fire of a mystery, the hidden drive behind the deed.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

?????? is the reason or rationale behind a person's actions, especially in committing a crime.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

In a whodunit, a mystery or detective story, the 'why' refers to the reason behind the crime, which is the ??????. The ?????? is what drives the perpetrator to commit the act, and uncovering it is key to solving the mystery.

Hint 4

another clue

Reveal Hint

Whodunit element, VITOEM, VTMEIO, Investigator's interest

WSJ Crossword October 20 2025 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? H
2 ? A
3 ? R
4 ? M
5 ? C
6 ? O
7 ? N
8 ? G
9 ? A
10 ? W
11 ? A
12 ? S
13 ? P
14 ? A
? S
? I
? A
15 ? O
? R
? D
? E
? R
16 ? A
? C
? H
? E
17 ? W
? I
? C
? K
18 ? E
? D
? G
? A
? M
? E
19 ? T
? E
? E
? N
20 ? S
? T
? E
? E
? L
? E
21 ? S
? A
22 ? V
? E
23 ? D
? I
? S
24 ? C
25 ? S
26 ? A
? R
27 ? B
28 ? O
29 ? R
30 ? S
31 ? A
32 ? M
? O
? A
33 ? H
? U
34 ? M
35 ? A
? N
? R
? A
? C
? E
36 ? I
? S
? O
37 ? S
38 ? P
? I
? N
? A
? L
39 ? A
? R
? T
? S
40 ? M
? I
? T
41 ? E
42 ? A
? N
? D
? R
? O
43 ? T
? H
? A
? T
44 ? I
? M
? I
? N
45 ? R
? E
? E
? S
? E
46 ? S
47 ? O
? N
? E
48 ? L
? O
? V
? E
49 ? M
? A
? T
? C
? H
50 ? T
51 ? A
? P
? E
? D
52 ? E
? V
? E
? R
? Y
53 ? K
? A
54 ? G
? A
? N
55 ? G
? A
56 ? I
57 ? T
58 ? A
? L
? I
59 ? G
60 ? N
61 ? S
62 ? L
63 ? O
64 ? K
? I
65 ? G
? O
66 ? O
67 ? G
? L
? E
? M
? E
? E
? T
68 ? S
? U
? E
? Z
69 ? O
? F
? U
? S
? E
70 ? A
? N
? T
? E
71 ? U
? R
? G
? E
72 ? R
? U
? I
? N
? S
73 ? L
? E
? S
? T

Across

Cause injury to Crossword Clue

Line dance with Cuban roots Crossword Clue

10A

Stinger in a nest Crossword Clue

14A

Home to Taiwan and Thailand Crossword Clue

15A

Choose from the menu Crossword Clue

16A

Feel the workout Crossword Clue

17A

Chris Isaak’s only Top 10 hit Crossword Clue

19A

Many a TikTok frequenter Crossword Clue

20A

Former RNC chair Michael Crossword Clue

21A

Rescue Crossword Clue

23A

Old music holders Crossword Clue

26A

Shady spot Crossword Clue

30A

Polynesian island nation Crossword Clue

33A

People, collectively Crossword Clue

36A

Prefix for metric or thermal Crossword Clue

37A

Backbone-based Crossword Clue

39A

Sketching and sculpture, e.g. Crossword Clue

42A

Supplement banned by MLB, for short Crossword Clue

43A

“___ ship has sailed” Crossword Clue

44A

“Count on me!” Crossword Clue

45A

Big name in peanut butter cups Crossword Clue

48A

Marriage for romantic reasons Crossword Clue

50A

Not live Crossword Clue

52A

Not just some Crossword Clue

53A

Justice Elena Crossword Clue

55A

Pony’s pace Crossword Clue

58A

Straightens Crossword Clue

62A

Tom Hiddleston’s role in Marvel movies Crossword Clue

65A

Alternative to Zoom Crossword Clue

68A

Noted canal site Crossword Clue

69A

Practical Crossword Clue

70A

Card table payment Crossword Clue

71A

Really push Crossword Clue

72A

Pompeii or the Parthenon, for example Crossword Clue

Down

Hems and ___ Crossword Clue

“___ just so happens…” Crossword Clue

Paddy crop Crossword Clue

Cope Crossword Clue

Cryptology topics Crossword Clue

Red Cross’s URL ending Crossword Clue

Document signed by a new employee: Abbr. Crossword Clue

Diamonds and rubies Crossword Clue

Carpeting calculation Crossword Clue

10D

Amphibious rodent, or a vagrant who frequents the docks Crossword Clue

11D

High card Crossword Clue

12D

The lady over there Crossword Clue

13D

Livestock container Crossword Clue

18D

Inventor Howe Crossword Clue

22D

Moving day vehicle Crossword Clue

24D

Dixie competitor Crossword Clue

25D

Spot to enjoy summer weather Crossword Clue

27D

Lounge around? Crossword Clue

28D

Gas pump rating Crossword Clue

29D

Took ten Crossword Clue

30D

“Clear as mud,” for example Crossword Clue

31D

“Foundation” author Crossword Clue

32D

The “why” in a whodunit Crossword Clue

41D

Supply with juice, in a way Crossword Clue

46D

No longer fresh Crossword Clue

51D

20 Questions category Crossword Clue

54D

Strong winds Crossword Clue

57D

Vegan protein choice Crossword Clue

59D

Chromosome component Crossword Clue

60D

Brooklyn’s NBA team Crossword Clue

61D

Editor’s “leave it” Crossword Clue

62D

Shaq’s alma mater Crossword Clue

63D

Owned by us Crossword Clue

64D

Beer bash container Crossword Clue

66D

Anjou affirmative Crossword Clue

67D

“Tic Tac Dough” channel Crossword Clue

Clue Analysis

The clue “The “why” in a whodunit” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated October 20 2025, the definitive 6-letter answer is: MOTIVE.

Expert Tip: When you’re stuck, try to analyze the structure of the clue itself. Is it a direct definition, a pun, a fill-in-the-blank, or a pop culture reference? Identifying the type of clue you’re dealing with is a key skill for improving your solving speed.

Finished the WSJ Puzzle? Check out this link for future puzzles:

WSJ Crossword Answers

Play the Official Game

Play Online in Wall Street Journal

Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 6-letter answer for "The “why” in a whodunit" is MOTIVE.

A: In a whodunit, a mystery or detective story, the 'why' refers to the reason behind the crime, which is the motive. The motive is what drives the perpetrator to commit the act, and uncovering it is key to solving the mystery.

A: This clue was last seen in the WSJ Crossword on October 20, 2025.

A: Motive is the reason or rationale behind a person's actions, especially in committing a crime.

A: Whodunit element, VITOEM, VTMEIO, Investigator's interest

Today's Crossword Answers

Want more help on other popular crossword puzzles? Try it now!

The “why” in a whodunit WSJ Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

Interactive Solver for The “why” in a whodunit Crossword Clue