WSJ Crossword May 12, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 12, 2026, “Highlights,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Aidan Glenn with 76 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 GASSTATION 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 STEM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is TRACE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is PACS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ARNO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is SAVOR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is RIOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is GASSTATION, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with G and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is OSLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ARRESTS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
21 Across is FLOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with F and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Across is ACTII, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Across is THEONE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with T and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Across is BOBCOSTAS, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
32 Across is ESPYS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
33 Across is BOSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Across is ARGUERS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
36 Across is ALP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Across is EGOISTS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
38 Across is CST, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with C and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
41 Across is AREOLAR, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with A and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Across is CHAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
43 Across is DITTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is PENETRATE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
48 Across is IGUESS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with I and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is EENSY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Across is PURL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
52 Across is ARMLOAD, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
57 Across is PANE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Across is GUESTLISTS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with G and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
62 Across is ENTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
63 Across is ALTAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is TARO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is RAOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is NEATO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with N and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is SNUB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is SAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is TRA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with T and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
3 Down is ENS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is MOSAICS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with M and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
5 Down is TSAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is RATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is AVIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is COOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is ERNST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Down is PROFESS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
11 Down is AISLOP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
12 Down is COLONY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is STORES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with S 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.
18 Down is TRIO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is ABBA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Down is COOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with C and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is TBSP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with T and ends with P, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is HERS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is SAGE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is TROOP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with T and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is AGILE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is SUSAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is ETRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is EROS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is CHAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with C and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is SATS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is TREY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Down is ATELESS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is CREDITS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is DIPPER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is IGUANA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with I and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is TURNTO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is TEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with T and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Down is SAGAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is RULE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is META, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is LSAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is OTRO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is SAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is TRU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with T and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is SOB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 35 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares and 28 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.