WSJ Crossword June 23, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 23, 2026, “Partial Compensation,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Shmuel Schmell with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is TIKKAMASALA 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 OLDSAW, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with O and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Across is CTR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
10 Across is NAIF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with N and ends with F, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is GOSOLO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with G and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
15 Across is LEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
16 Across is OTTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is SALLOW, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Across is ANCESTOR, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 8. It begins with A and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
20 Across is HEIST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with H and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
22 Across is THING, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
23 Across is TIKKAMASALA, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with T and ends with A, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters.
28 Across is RYE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with R and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is HANA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Across is NICE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Across is READ, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is ATONAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
35 Across is CLOSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
37 Across is NEWSTIP, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with N and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Across is ENDMOST, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Across is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Across is AIOLIS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
46 Across is ORES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with O 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.
49 Across is NETS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
51 Across is REDO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is HEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with H and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Across is AGESANDAGES, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
56 Across is MEANS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Across is MOPER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is ASSASSIN, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
61 Across is PAYCUT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
66 Across is METS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is TEM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
68 Across is APRONS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
69 Across is ASEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
70 Across is SSE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
71 Across is LESSEE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
Down
1 Down is OGS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is LOA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is DSL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with D and ends with L, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Down is SOL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is ALOHA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is WOWEM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with W and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is CLASSIC, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with C and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
8 Down is TENTACLE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is REC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with R and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is NOSH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with N and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
11 Down is ATTIRE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
12 Down is ITONYA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is FORGED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with F and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
19 Down is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Down is IAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Down is THAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
24 Down is IATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is KNOW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with K and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is KANSAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with K and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Down is LEONA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with L and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is REMORA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 12. It begins with R and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
33 Down is ATT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with A 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.
34 Down is LIANG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with L and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is SDI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
38 Down is PREEMIES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with P and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
40 Down is OLEG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with O and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is SIDE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is TSOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with T 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.
44 Down is ITSONME, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
46 Down is OHMAMA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is REESES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with R 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.
48 Down is EWASTE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is SAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Down is ASS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Down is NEPAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is DRAPE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is NASA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Down is STS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
62 Down is YRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with Y and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is COS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with C 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.
64 Down is UNE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with U and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
65 Down is TSE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with T and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 36 Across and 42 Down entries, with 37 black squares. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.