WSJ Crossword June 25, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 25, 2026, “As a Rule,” is a Thursday puzzle by Jake Halperin 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 PASSEDASLAW 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 MOLAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is ABIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is NOOB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with N and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ANISE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is DELI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is IRMA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is JUSTASWELL, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with J and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is NEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ASTI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is MARC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with M and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Across is BJORK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with B and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
23 Across is ENTER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Across is HERA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Across is ANN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is PASSEDASLAW, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with P and ends with W, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
34 Across is MOTHER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
36 Across is PCS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with P 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.
37 Across is TIRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is ALOAD, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is NIK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with N and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is SAFES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S 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.
41 Across is SIMS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is ABE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Across is WERENT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with W and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is SEEINGASHOW, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
47 Across is LAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with L 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.
48 Across is TEES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with T 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 ARNIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Across is GREET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is TMNT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with T and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is PSST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Across is LAVA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is BOUGHTASIS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with B and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
62 Across is ACES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is ORSO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is KNOCK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with K and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
65 Across is DENY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Across is BEEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with B and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is TANKS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is MAJA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ONUS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is LISTENTOME, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with L and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
4 Down is ASTIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is REA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is ADWARS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. 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.
7 Down is BEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with B and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is ILLCHECK, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is TIL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with T and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is NINJASTAR, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with N and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
11 Down is OREO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with O and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is OMAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is BARK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with B and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
18 Down is SMEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is BRA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with B and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is TPED, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with T and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Down is EDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
27 Down is AMASS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is NOLIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is SPIES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
31 Down is LIFELESSON, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with L and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
32 Down is ARENA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is WESTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
35 Down is HASITEASY, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
39 Down is NBASTORE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
40 Down is SEWN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is AGE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Down is WORTH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with W and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. This is a cross-reference clue, so solve the referenced entry first.
45 Down is NET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Down is HANGON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is IPANA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is GLAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with G and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
52 Down is RACE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is EVEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is MUSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is SICK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
58 Down is TSKS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with T 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.
60 Down is BOB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with B and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is TKT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 34 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.