WSJ Crossword June 17, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 17, 2026, “Opposites Attract,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Hunter Murphy with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is MOUNTAINMAN at 11 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 WIIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with W 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.
5 Across is SOD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Across is SPOCK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
13 Across is ESTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is UMA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is SPADAY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Across is ELSA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is VALLEYGIRL, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with V and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is PATTI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with P and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is HAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is MOUNTAINMAN, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with M and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
26 Across is ORCAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O 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.
27 Across is EON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
28 Across is CEO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Across is SULTAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
33 Across is LANDLADY, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
35 Across is ETAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is FAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with F and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Across is ERIE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is WATERBOY, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with W and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
41 Across is BLINTZ, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with B and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
43 Across is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S 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.
44 Across is OIL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Across is EMOTE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is WONDERWOMAN, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with W and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
49 Across is AHOY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is AERO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is NOSIR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is BUMMERDUDE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
58 Across is TAXI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
59 Across is USNAVY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with U and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
60 Across is PEG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 8. It begins with P and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Across is IDES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is THINE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is TSO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 8. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is FADE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is WEEP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with W and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ISLAM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is ITSTOOLATE, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with I and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
4 Down is SEATURTLE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
5 Down is SUV, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is OMAHAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
7 Down is DALAI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with D and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is SPY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
9 Down is PAGAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is ODIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is CART, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
12 Down is KYLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with K and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Down is SERMON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Down is LINEAR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 9. It begins with L and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
20 Down is INCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is TAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is AND, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with A and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Down is CARNEASADA, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with C and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Down is EDIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is OYEZ, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with O and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Down is SEWS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
32 Down is UTAH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with U and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is LAY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is LEITMOTIF, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with L and ends with F, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
36 Down is FOLDED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with F and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
39 Down is ROO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Down is BINARY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with B and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
41 Down is BMW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with B and ends with W, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Down is LOON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Down is ERODES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
46 Down is WYMAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with W and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
47 Down is ERUPT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is NIXED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with N and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is ABUT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is HUSH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with H and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Down is OMNI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is RISE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is EVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Down is EGO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.