Drag through the mud crossword clue
18 Down · WSJ Crossword, June 25, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Drag through the mud” is SMEAR. It appears as 18 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of June 25, 2026, a Thursday puzzle titled “As a Rule” by Jake Halperin, and it fills 5 squares running top to bottom from row 3, 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 R, and contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer SMEAR:
- Political attack, of a sortAug 7, 2026
- Printer problemJun 12, 2026