WSJ Crossword May 28, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 28, 2026, “Capital Gains,” is a Thursday puzzle by Jake Halperin with 76 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 TALLTALLINNINN 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 SNAFU, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
6 Across is DIME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is JPEG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with J and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is TOGUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with T and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ADAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is EASE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is EVILS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Across is YOGI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 7. It begins with Y and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Across is WIPE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is TALLTALLINNINN, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with T and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 14 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
23 Across is SEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Across is EAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with E and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Across is ATATHENSHENS, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with A and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
31 Across is AMBLE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Across is ORCA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is DOE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Across is FEEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with F and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is BINGE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
39 Across is COAX, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with C and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
40 Across is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
41 Across is BARD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with B and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is NANCY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
43 Across is WARWARSAWSAW, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with W and ends with W, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
47 Across is DOUG, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with D and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Across is ATM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Across is ARM, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
52 Across is MANMANAGUAAGUA, a 14-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with M and ends with A, with 8 vowels among its 14 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
56 Across is MIND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Across is MAYO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Across is SPELL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 11. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
59 Across is ONCE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is EDEN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Across is TENET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is BEER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with B and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is SASS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
64 Across is EXTRA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
Down
1 Down is STETS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
2 Down is NOVAE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
3 Down is AGILE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
4 Down is FULL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with F and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Down is UPSTATE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
6 Down is DAYLIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Down is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Down is MAGI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with M and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
9 Down is EMINENCE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is JEWISH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with J and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is PAINTEDON, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with P and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
12 Down is ESPN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with E and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Down is GEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Down is ALA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 6. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Down is NASA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
26 Down is ALL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Down is HONDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with H and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Down is ERG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with E and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Down is NOAC, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with N and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
30 Down is SEXY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
31 Down is AFEW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Down is META, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 2. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Down is BEARDANCE, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 3. It begins with B and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
37 Down is BARGAMES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
38 Down is IRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is CAW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with C and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Down is BAUM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with B and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
42 Down is NAMASTE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with N and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is WONDER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with W and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is WAGONS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with W 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.
46 Down is STU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with S and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
49 Down is AGENT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is RULER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 14. It begins with R and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is MALTA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 15. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is MINE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is NADA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is AYES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A 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.
55 Down is APEX, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 12. It begins with A and ends with X, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Down is MOB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 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.