Decorative design crossword clue
99 Across · WSJ Crossword, May 9, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Decorative design” is MOTIF. It appears as 99 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of May 9, 2026, a Saturday puzzle titled “Shifters” by Mike Shenk, and it fills 5 squares running left to right from row 18, column 1 of the 21×21 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 M and ends with F, and contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. This weekend puzzle uses the largest grid of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
MOTIF 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.