WSJ Crossword May 20, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 20, 2026, “Look Both Ways,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Gary Larson with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is EYEOPENERS 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 PLY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with P and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
4 Across is EMIRS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. 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.
9 Across is PEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
13 Across is AMES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is MINEO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with M and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is EYRE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is WATCHBANDS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is SEED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is SOIREE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Across is SOASTO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
23 Across is ERRS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Across is TOPPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with T 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.
28 Across is SAVES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
31 Across is APPLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is EEK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with E and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is ARID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is ONEHOP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with O and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Across is NEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
39 Across is IRE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Across is SPYKIDS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
41 Across is EWW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 13. It begins with E and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Across is NEW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with N and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is OTOOLE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is CREE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is TSP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with T and ends with P, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Across is ISSEI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with I and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Across is LOSER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with L and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Across is STOOL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Across is PLAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with P and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
52 Across is INSIST, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
56 Across is USVISA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with U and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
60 Across is CONS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C 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.
62 Across is SPOTCHECKS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
64 Across is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is NADIR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
66 Across is YEAH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with Y and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
67 Across is POST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
68 Across is TROPE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
69 Across is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is PAWS, 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. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
2 Down is LMAO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is YETI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with Y and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is EMBER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with E and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is MIA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is INNS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. 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.
7 Down is REDO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is SOSA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Down is PESTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Down is EYEOPENERS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with S, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
11 Down is ARE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is RED, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with R and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
14 Down is SCREED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 4. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Down is HERS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
22 Down is STEPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with S 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.
24 Down is SANYOS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. 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.
26 Down is PEEWEE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with P and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Down is SKEWER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Down is SAINTS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Down is ARREST, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
30 Down is VIEWPOINTS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with V and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
32 Down is PEKOE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Down is PHILIP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with P and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Down is LODE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Down is OPTS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is SOILS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. 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.
44 Down is CONVEY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is LASH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with L and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
49 Down is ONSET, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is LUCRE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 10. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is ISNT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with I and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
54 Down is SPAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with S and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is TODO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is ICES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is SKAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Down is ASHY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is CAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Down is ONO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
63 Down is TIP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 39 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
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.