WSJ Crossword May 18, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 18, 2026, “Craft Show,” is a Monday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is BOSCHEMBECHLER at 14 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 HATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with H 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.
5 Across is GORGE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is PROW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ESAU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is AVIAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is LURE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is REIN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
18 Across is LEGIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with L and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
19 Across is IBET, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is BCORPORATION, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with B and ends with N, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
23 Across is IFS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with I 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.
24 Across is CUTEST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is BOSCHEMBECHLER, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with B and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 14 letters.
33 Across is CORES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C 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 Across is LEASH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with L and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is TEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is RODS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with R 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.
37 Across is VAL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with V and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
38 Across is MODE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is ABE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Across is BEENE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with B and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is EARED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with E and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is BOACONSTRICTOR, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with B and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 14 letters.
46 Across is SOLONG, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Across is RCA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with R and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Across is BOATBUILDING, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with B and ends with G, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
55 Across is CZAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Across is GOONS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with G 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.
59 Across is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is HERA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is ERODE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is ROMA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is INKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with I 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.
64 Across is DEMOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with D 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.
65 Across is SLED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is HERB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with H and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ASEC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is TAIO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with T and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is SUNRISES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is GALOSH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with G and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is OVER, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is RIGA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with R and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is GAIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is ENTICES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
10 Down is PLINTH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
11 Down is RUB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with R and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
12 Down is ORE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
13 Down is WET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Down is PFCS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is OUCH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with O and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
25 Down is ELTORO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
26 Down is SEEDER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Down is TREED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is BOOBOO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with B and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Down is ORDEAL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Down is ELVES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with E 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.
31 Down is MEANT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is BALER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with B and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is CRABS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
38 Down is MATADORS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with M and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
40 Down is BONO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
41 Down is ENGAGED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with E and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is ECCL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with E and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
44 Down is COBRAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with C 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.
45 Down is IRISES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with I and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
49 Down is TORE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is BOOM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with B and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is UNDO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is NOME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is GRAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with G and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is CHI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Down is ZEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with Z and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Down is ARK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 35 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.