WSJ Crossword June 5, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for June 5, 2026, “A Matter of Degree,” is a Friday puzzle by Matt Gaffney with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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 , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
5 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
9 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
14 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
15 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
16 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
17 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
19 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
20 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
21 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
23 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
26 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
27 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
30 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
35 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
36 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
37 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
38 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
39 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
42 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
43 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
45 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
46 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
48 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
50 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
51 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
52 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
54 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
58 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
62 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
63 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
66 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
67 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
68 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
69 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
70 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
71 Across is , a 0-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
Down
1 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
2 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
3 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
4 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
5 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
6 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
7 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
8 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
9 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
10 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
11 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
12 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
13 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
18 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
22 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
24 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
25 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
27 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
28 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
29 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
31 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
32 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
33 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
34 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
40 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
41 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
44 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
47 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
49 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
53 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
54 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
55 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
56 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
57 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
59 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
60 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
61 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
64 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
65 Down is , a 0-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with and ends with , with 0 vowels among its 0 letters.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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.