WSJ Crossword June 4, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 4, 2026, “Defeatist Attitude,” is a Thursday puzzle by Bryan Cheong & Zachary Edward-Brown 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 INEQUALITY 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 SWAMP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is SKA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Across is CAJUN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with C and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is PIXIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is HAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
16 Across is ALIBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is CLEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is ALG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with A and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
19 Across is RAMEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is ALL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is SCREAMO, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
24 Across is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is POODLECUT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with P and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
27 Across is PIANO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with P and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Across is USETO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with U and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is SANTA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is NOG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with N and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
36 Across is EXACT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Across is AREEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
39 Across is ISO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with I and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
40 Across is LAKER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is FAQS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with F 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.
42 Across is ANTON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is NILE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is EDU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
46 Across is AWARDEE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Across is NOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with N 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.
49 Across is SEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
50 Across is DERIDED, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with D and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
51 Across is GTS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with G 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.
52 Across is LID, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Across is ICE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
55 Across is GST, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with G and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
57 Across is SPIKE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is CHA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with C and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Across is ETHOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is UTTER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
64 Across is CEL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with C and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Across is REEVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is MAYAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is ISS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
68 Across is SPLAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is SPCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is WILL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with W and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
3 Down is AXEL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is MIA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
5 Down is PERSONAL, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
6 Down is SHARD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
7 Down is KALEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with K and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is ALGAE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is CAROUSEL, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with C and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is JIMI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with J and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is UBER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with U and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Down is NINE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is COO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Down is MCU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with M and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
25 Down is PATES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with P 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.
26 Down is TEXAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is PARADE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Down is INEQUALITY, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
30 Down is TAKINGTHEL, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with T and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
31 Down is OCELOT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with O and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Down is SAFES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is NINARICCI, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with N and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
34 Down is OSTRICHES, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
35 Down is GOODDEALS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with G and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
37 Down is TRESS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
42 Down is AWE, 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 NEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Down is ADDERS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. 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.
47 Down is EDGERS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with E 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.
53 Down is IKEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is STEP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is SUM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is PTA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with P and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is OVA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is SET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 42 Across and 36 Down entries, with 41 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.