WSJ Crossword May 14, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 14, 2026, “Speed Bumps,” is a Thursday puzzle by Catherine Cetta with 80 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 BOTTOMLINE 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 OPAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is AMAZE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is SLAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ROLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is CODEX, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with C and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is HAUL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is BOTTOMLINE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with B and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is OGRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is TETE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with T 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.
22 Across is COCOON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with C and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
24 Across is REISSUE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with R and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
27 Across is SKORT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
28 Across is POETS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Across is EDS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. 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.
32 Across is NAY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Across is SIGH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Across is TEAROOM, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with T and ends with M, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
38 Across is ALOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is ADMIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is OPEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is RECIPES, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with R 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.
46 Across is TALE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is ACS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A 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.
50 Across is LOT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
51 Across is POSIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Across is FACTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with F and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Across is HANGERS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
58 Across is REHEAT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
60 Across is TIRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is KOI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with K and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Across is ISIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with I 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.
65 Across is RIPCURRENT, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
68 Across is CAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
69 Across is ICAHN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
70 Across is BYES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with B and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
71 Across is ARMY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
72 Across is BERET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
73 Across is ISAY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is ORBS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is POOH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with P and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is ALTEREGO, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
4 Down is LET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is ACMES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. 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.
6 Down is MOLTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
7 Down is ADIEU, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with U, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is ZEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with Z and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is EXEC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is SHOCK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
11 Down is LAGOON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
12 Down is AURORA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
13 Down is PLENTY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
18 Down is OTIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Down is OSSO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is ETHER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is EERIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is PSA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with P and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
29 Down is OIL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Down is DOTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with D 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.
34 Down is TACO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is EDITH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with E and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is AMP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is MOTOR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with M and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Down is PASSKEYS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with P and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
42 Down is ELI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 14. It begins with E and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Down is NET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 15. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Down is ELSA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is AFRICA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is CAESAR, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with C and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is SCHISM, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
51 Down is PEER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is TESTY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
55 Down is ATPAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
56 Down is NICHE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is GRUNT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
59 Down is TRIB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with T and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Down is ONEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Down is ITSY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
66 Down is ICE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
67 Down is RBI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with R and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares and 22 circled squares that carry the theme. 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.