WSJ Crossword May 21, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 21, 2026, “I Could Go Either Way,” is a Thursday puzzle by Jeff Stillman with 74 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 TRUSTIMPLICITLY 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 MAJ, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with J, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is OPTTO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Across is NEATO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with N and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
14 Across is APU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is KEIRA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with K and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is EXXON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is DISHITOUT, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is RHONE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is RETIES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with R 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.
21 Across is SHOVING, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with S and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
23 Across is ACID, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is PITSTOP, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with P and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Across is SEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Across is BALI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with B and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Across is SUPINE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
32 Across is TCU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with T and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is IMS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. 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.
36 Across is SITAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Across is ADIOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is APE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Across is TESTS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, 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.
41 Across is GAMUT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is CLE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with C and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
43 Across is ISU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with I and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Across is EMERIL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Across is IMAC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 8. It begins with I and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Across is PST, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with P and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Across is SCARCER, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
53 Across is BTWO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with B and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Across is ALEKSEI, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
56 Across is EMUOIL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with E and ends with L, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
58 Across is SLOPE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
59 Across is STENOTYPE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
61 Across is OPART, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is ELTON, a 5-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 5 letters.
63 Across is OED, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with O and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Across is DODOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. 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 WYATT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
66 Across is USO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is MADRAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is APIECE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is JUSTINTIME, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with J and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
4 Down is OKIE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is PETSPA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is TIO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
7 Down is TRUSTIMPLICITLY, a 15-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with Y, with 4 vowels among its 15 letters.
8 Down is OATHS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is NERVOUSTIC, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with N and ends with C, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
10 Down is EXHIPPIES, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
11 Down is AXON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is TONG, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is ONE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
18 Down is HID, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with H and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Down is OTS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with O 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.
25 Down is ILIAC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with I and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is BUSTICKETS, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
29 Down is ITSUPTOYOU, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with I and ends with U, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
30 Down is NAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with N and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is ERS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with E 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.
33 Down is COURSEPRO, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with C and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
35 Down is SEEME, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Down is AGE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is DAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 2. It begins with D and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Down is LAS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Down is ARENOT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is SWIPES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is TOLEDO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with T and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Down is RESEW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with R and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is BUT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with B and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
54 Down is ALPO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is LOAD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with L and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is MONT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is SOD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with S and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
60 Down is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 35 Down entries, with 36 black squares. 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.