WSJ Crossword June 12, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 12, 2026, “Backing the Odds,” is a Friday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 80 clues on a 15×15 grid. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution. The longest entry is SHEHATEME at 9 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 GPS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Across is AMOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Across is SPUD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
12 Across is AAHS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ROKU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with R and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is SPOSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is SWEETCORN, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
18 Across is EELER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with E and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is PSHAW, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with P and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
20 Across is DANCECLUB, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with D and ends with B, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
22 Across is ASIF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with A and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is ISH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with I and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Across is SPY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
26 Across is EMT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
28 Across is SILK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
31 Across is TOW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with T and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Across is REENTRANT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
36 Across is WEBMD, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with W and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
40 Across is IAMS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Across is SMEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is BLAU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with B and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is CLEFS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C 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.
46 Across is ALTARBOYS, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Across is WAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
50 Across is TECH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with T and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Across is OAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
52 Across is SCI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
55 Across is FIG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with F and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is KIND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with K and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Across is EASTEREGG, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with G, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
63 Across is NOSES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with N 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.
66 Across is GROOT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is TRADESHOW, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with T and ends with W, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
69 Across is ALLOY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Across is TIME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
71 Across is HONE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with H and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
72 Across is LOAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
73 Across is OMEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
74 Across is TSE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
Down
1 Down is GASP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is PAWS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is SHEHATEME, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
4 Down is ARC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is MOOD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is OKRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is SUNNI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is SPEC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Down is POLLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with P 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.
10 Down is USEUP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with U and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is DERBY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
13 Down is SEAS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
15 Down is SEEHOW, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with S and ends with W, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
17 Down is TWIST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
21 Down is CST, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with C and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
23 Down is FIRS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with F and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
26 Down is ERIC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is MEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with M and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is LAMA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is KNELT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
32 Down is WEBB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with W and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Down is NSFW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with N and ends with W, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is TATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is BLOODSHOT, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with B and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
38 Down is MAYA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is DUST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with D 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.
42 Down is RACK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with R and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Down is SAFETY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is RHINE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is SIR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
52 Down is SEGAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is CARLO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is ISOLA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is GETTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is NOSH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with N and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is TOON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is GRIM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with G and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Down is GAME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Down is EONS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Down is SWEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Down is DEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 39 Across and 41 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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.