Baffle crossword clue
40 Across · WSJ Crossword, June 29, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Baffle” is STUMP. It appears as 40 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of June 29, 2026, a Monday puzzle titled “Margin of Error” by Mike Shenk, and it fills 5 squares running left to right from row 9, column 6 of the 15×15 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with S and ends with P, and contains 1 vowel and 4 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Monday puzzles are the most approachable of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
STUMP has not appeared as an answer in any other WSJ puzzle in our index, which runs from May 2026 onward. It will be listed here the next time it turns up.