WSJ Crossword June 18, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 18, 2026, “Not a Straight Answer,” is a Thursday puzzle by Ella Dershowitz 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 PINACOLADA at 10 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 PUB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with P and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
4 Across is LATIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Across is HERB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with H and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Across is PINACOLADA, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
15 Across is IVEY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is ASCETICISM, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
17 Across is JAPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with J and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is NAH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with N and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
19 Across is ARON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ERICA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is INIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is EATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Across is INURE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is COCHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is ETICKETS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
32 Across is CICADAS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with C and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
35 Across is SEEP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is ADA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is RED, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is RID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is SEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is POPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
45 Across is OVERTHE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Across is POPMUSIC, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with P and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
50 Across is SYNCS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with S and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is TREES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. 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.
55 Across is LOSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Across is EARS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with E 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.
59 Across is STRAP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
61 Across is LOIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with L and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is DIG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with D and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Across is OTIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is DROPSAHINT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with D and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
68 Across is TOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
69 Across is FIGHTSONGS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with F and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
70 Across is OPEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
71 Across is SAYSO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
72 Across is GEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is PISANO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with P and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is UNCHIC, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with U and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is BAE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Down is LOIRE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is ALCOA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is TAINTED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
7 Down is IDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
8 Down is NAME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is HIJINKS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with H 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.
10 Down is EVACUEES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
11 Down is REPARTEE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with R and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
12 Down is BYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with B and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is PANIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Down is CTA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with C and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is RIC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with R and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Down is THC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with T and ends with C, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Down is STARR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Down is ESPN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with E and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is AIR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Down is ISIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is CEOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with C 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.
34 Down is ADVIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is APPT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Down is DOORSTOP, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with D and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
38 Down is APPETITE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
41 Down is DHS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with D and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Down is EMERSON, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with E and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is ECOLOGY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
47 Down is EYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
49 Down is USA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Down is NADINE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Down is CRINGE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Down is SSGTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with S and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is SOPHS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
57 Down is SISTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Down is PDFS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
62 Down is NAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Down is OTO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
66 Down is RIA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
67 Down is HOG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with H and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 38 Across and 40 Down entries, with 35 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.