WSJ Crossword June 3, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 3, 2026, “Secret Society,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Gary Larson & Amy Ensz 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 CLEANINGAGENT at 13 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 DEFER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is TARSI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Across is MEG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Across is ARABY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ORION, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with O and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is UMA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is RUBBERPLANT, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is TIM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with T and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
20 Across is NPR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with N and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Across is ETON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is OPINE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is STIPPLE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
27 Across is ATONES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is CLEANINGAGENT, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with C and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
31 Across is ANY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is NOEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with N and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is ECO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Across is ANON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is END, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with E and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Across is PREP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with P and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Across is MEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is CAVE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Across is SPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Across is POSTOPERATIVE, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
48 Across is ENTIRE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Across is LATERAL, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with L and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
52 Across is RAINN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Across is VIII, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with V and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Across is AVA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
56 Across is ATL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is FROZENASSET, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with F and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Across is GAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Across is EATON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with E and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is INERT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is ELS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Across is DEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 5. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is MORSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is DARNS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D 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.
2 Down is ERUPT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is FABRIC, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with F and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is EBB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with E and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is RYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with R and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is TOPTEN, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is ARLO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is RIAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is INTOTAL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with I and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is MUTINEER, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with M and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
12 Down is EMINENCE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
13 Down is GAMESTOP, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with G and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
18 Down is RELAY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is POG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with P and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is PLAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with P and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is PEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with P and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Down is AGE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
29 Down is INNER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is NOD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with N and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Down is AMPERAGE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
35 Down is NEONATAL, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with N and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
36 Down is ONSTILTS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
37 Down is EVE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is PAVE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. 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.
40 Down is CORNFED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with C and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
41 Down is APE, 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.
42 Down is STAIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is PIT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Down is TIN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Down is ALIENS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is ERASER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with E and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is AVERS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with A 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.
51 Down is LATTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is VOTE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with V and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is IZOD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is RAE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is AIM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is SNO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with S and ends with O, with 1 vowel 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.