WSJ Crossword June 11, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 11, 2026, “Water Hazard,” is a Thursday puzzle by George Jasper with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is METHHEAD at 8 letters.
Every answer is listed below in grid order, Across first and then Down, with a short explanation of how the entry sits in the grid. Use the Definition link under any entry to pull the dictionary meaning of the answer word, or click the clue to open its own page with past appearances and neighboring clues.
Across
1 Across is BALSA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is BEEP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with B and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is MYST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with M and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is CREEP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ARGO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is EACH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with E and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is CESAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is KOOP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with K and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is THOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is STROBES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 2. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
22 Across is LAHORE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is CPAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
25 Across is MACHONE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Across is SIPHON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is PUREE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is LOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Across is STARR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
33 Across is RAMBO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Across is OTOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is UBOAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with U and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is DIOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Across is BARNS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
44 Across is BPLUS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
46 Across is COE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is TUBAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
49 Across is DELANO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with D and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is WASHERS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
54 Across is MOTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Across is ONAUTO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with O and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
56 Across is SORBETS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
59 Across is LETS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Across is WAPO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with W and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is AWAIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is FAYE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is SLUR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is CARLO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ERRS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
68 Across is EINE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is KYOTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with K and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is BCC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with B and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
2 Down is ARES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is LEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is SEARCH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is APROPOS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
6 Down is BAKES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is EROS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is EGO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is POPLAR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is METHHEAD, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with M and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is YAHOO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with Y and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is SCORN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
13 Down is THREE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Down is BANTU, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with B and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is ACER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is MURAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with M and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is SLOB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
27 Down is IOTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is POOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is PROPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
32 Down is ABBAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is MICA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is BOON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with B and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is OREO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is ENTHUSES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
40 Down is TUDOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is SUET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Down is SETBACK, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with S and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Down is BROWSE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is LEEWAY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is WOLFE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is ANEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with A and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is SATYR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Down is MOORE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with M and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is SPUN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is TARO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is SILT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Down is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is TOO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
Prefer to solve it yourself first? The homepage lists every clue for the latest puzzle without answers, and the archive covers every WSJ crossword in our index by date. The official puzzle is published on the WSJ Puzzles page.