Like planes, for short crossword clue
11 Across · WSJ Crossword, May 9, 2026 · 4 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Like planes, for short” is TWOD. It appears as 11 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of May 9, 2026, a Saturday puzzle titled “Shifters” by Mike Shenk, and it fills 4 squares running left to right from row 1, column 13 of the 21×21 grid.
The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials rather than a full word. The entry begins with T and ends with D, and contains 1 vowel 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
TWOD 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.