WSJ Crossword May 15, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 15, 2026, “Prep Work,” is a Friday puzzle by Mike Shenk 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. The longest entry is STANDINGON 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 PERP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is HAUL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with H and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Across is FEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with F and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Across is ASEA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Across is LORNA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is FOCI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with F and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is STANDINGON, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
17 Across is AIRS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is SARDINE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
19 Across is CALLUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with C and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Across is ORGY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Across is JELL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with J and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
23 Across is GEARTO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with G and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Across is MULLOVER, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with M and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
30 Across is ARRAY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Across is SILO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is NEMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is PRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is POSIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is ION, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is EONS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Across is ELSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is NINJA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is DRAWFROM, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with D and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
43 Across is SITSIN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is OAFS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is MENS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Across is PIERRE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Across is ATECROW, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with A and ends with W, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
53 Across is LORD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Across is CUTTHROUGH, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with C and ends with H, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
57 Across is OTIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with O 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.
58 Across is TREES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
59 Across is OSLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is YAK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Across is ANDY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Across is LEES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is PASS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ESTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is REAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is PANDORA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is HONEY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is ARG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is UNO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is LANCELOT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with L and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is FOIL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with F and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is ECRU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is WISP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with W and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is LINGO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Down is FALLON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with F and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
16 Down is DIRTY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
20 Down is ALL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Down is JULIE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with J and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Down is GAPED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with G and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is ERROR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ARENA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is MISSM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with M and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Down is VEINS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with V 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.
28 Down is EMOJI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with E and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
29 Down is RONAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Down is SOLOS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with S 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.
34 Down is PERFECTA, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
37 Down is SWORDS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
39 Down is NINER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Down is ITSCOOL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with I and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is FAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with F and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Down is SETHS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
45 Down is MATEY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Down is PLOY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Down is IOTA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is ERIK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with E and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is RUSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is OGLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is WHOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is URN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with U and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Down is TED, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with T and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 42 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.