WSJ Crossword May 19, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 19, 2026, “Branch Office,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Alan Olschwang with 78 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 LEARNTOLIVEWITH at 15 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 COMFY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
6 Across is AMI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Across is CAUSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with C and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is ADELE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is TON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
16 Across is ENNUI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with E and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is ROMANGODS, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is SAPID, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is EROS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Across is ONEUPS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with O 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.
23 Across is ETE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
24 Across is HOTELMANAGER, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with H and ends with R, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters.
27 Across is RIB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with R and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is DOS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with D and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Across is RAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Across is OKAPI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is FELT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Across is TREK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Across is LEARNTOLIVEWITH, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with L and ends with H, with 6 vowels among its 15 letters.
44 Across is LALA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is ORIG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with O and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
46 Across is DONNA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is DAW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with D and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is HWY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Across is DAN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
52 Across is ESCAPEARTIST, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
58 Across is ATA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Across is ALCAPP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with A and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
60 Across is RAID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with R and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is TOPIC, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with T and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is TREEHOUSE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with T and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 9 letters.
68 Across is ALEPH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
69 Across is EEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
70 Across is APRIL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
71 Across is TERSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
72 Across is DRS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with D and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
73 Across is LEASE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is CARE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ODOR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is MEMO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is FLASH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with F and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
5 Down is YEN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is ATONESFOR, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
7 Down is MODEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with M and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is INSUM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
9 Down is CESSNA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with C and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ANA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is UNPEG, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with U and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is SUITE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is EIDER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is GOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is PARTV, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with P and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
25 Down is ODIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is ATTWO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is ROLL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with R and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
28 Down is IKEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is BAAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with B and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is PRADA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is ELI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with E and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Down is LIGHTPENS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
38 Down is RIND, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Down is ETNA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Down is KHAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with K and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is TOWEL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with T and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is EDYS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Down is APACHE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is WIPE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Down is EATAT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with E and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is STOLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is CAPER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is ACTED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Down is RARER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is TROPE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
61 Down is AURA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Down is ISIS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. 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.
63 Down is DELE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with D 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.
65 Down is IPS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with I 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.
67 Down is HAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 36 black squares. 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.