WSJ Crossword May 27, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 27, 2026, “Hardheaded,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Marc Goldstein 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 DIAMONDBACKS at 12 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 DOSE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ONAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Across is BLOC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with B and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Across is ARUBA, a 5-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 5 letters.
15 Across is CERN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with C and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 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 MARBLECAKE, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with M and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is DRED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with D and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is ELF, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with E and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is AMATI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is ALICE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is DIAMONDBACKS, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with D and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
25 Across is BIKINI, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with B and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is ELM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with E and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Across is EMERALDISLE, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 5 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
33 Across is ABU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is TAPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is EMU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Across is TSAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
39 Across is ACT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is JASPERJOHNS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with J and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
44 Across is HEX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with H and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
45 Across is EUREKA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Across is RUBYSLIPPERS, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 12 letters.
52 Across is INEPT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Across is GAUDI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with G and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Across is WAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with W and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is SITE, a 4-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 4 letters.
58 Across is ROCKYSTART, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters.
60 Across is ETTU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is ATTA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is TESLA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
63 Across is SEEP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is MOSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
65 Across is AHOY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is DAME, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ORAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is SURF, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
4 Down is EBB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with E and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
5 Down is OCCAM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Down is NEATO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with N and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ARKIN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with A and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is NNE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with N and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is BEDLAM, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with B and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is LYRIC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with L and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
11 Down is ORECK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is CEDES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. 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.
14 Down is ALAINA, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Down is EMAIL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Down is ABLE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Down is DIRE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is DEL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with D and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is BETA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with B and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is IMAC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with I and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is KEPT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Down is DES, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with D 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.
31 Down is IMP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with I and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is SUE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Down is ASHE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
34 Down is BANK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with B and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
35 Down is URSA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
38 Down is TORS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with T 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.
40 Down is JEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with J and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Down is AXL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
42 Down is REEDY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Down is JURIST, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with J and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Down is HYPEUP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with H and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is RISES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
47 Down is UNITE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is BETTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is IGOTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is PACTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with P 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.
51 Down is PUKAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with P 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.
54 Down is WASH, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with W and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
55 Down is ARLO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is STAY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is RAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is TEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 35 Across and 43 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.