WSJ Crossword May 8, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for May 8, 2026, “Before the Second Half,” is a Friday puzzle by Patrick Berry with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution. The longest entry is ACROSSTHEPOND at 13 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 LAW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is PARSE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Across is STOCK, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Across is OLE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is OMAHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is HERON, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is GAS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Across is MINORLEAGUE, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with M and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 11 letters.
20 Across is ONTAP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with O and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
22 Across is TOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
24 Across is ACROSSTHEPOND, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with A and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 13 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
28 Across is CROPUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is BAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with B and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Across is AKA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Across is SAWED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
35 Across is DARTH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with D and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
39 Across is FIST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
41 Across is NAVES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with N 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.
43 Across is LIEU, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with L and ends with U, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is ENTRY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
46 Across is RABAT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Across is CCR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with C and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
49 Across is OUT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
51 Across is ARNETT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Across is SANLUISOBISPO, a 13-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with S and ends with O, with 6 vowels among its 13 letters.
58 Across is ATO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Across is MOON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with M and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is PAINT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
62 Across is MERYLSTREEP, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 11 letters.
66 Across is LIU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with L and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
67 Across is PATIO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with P and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is ABATE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
69 Across is ACT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
70 Across is SLANG, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
71 Across is SOLAR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
72 Across is FSU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with F and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is LOGO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is ALANARKIN, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with A and ends with N, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
3 Down is WESTCOAST, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with W and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
4 Down is POMPOUS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with P and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
5 Down is AMI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
6 Down is RANTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with R 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.
7 Down is SHOOT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is EARTH, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is TEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is ORGAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is COULD, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with C and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is KNEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with K and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
19 Down is LOEB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 10. It begins with L and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
21 Down is ARP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
25 Down is SPAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is PAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with P and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
27 Down is ORAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with O and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
28 Down is CAF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with C and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is WAR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with W and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is EVA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Down is DEB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with D and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
36 Down is RICEPILAF, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with R and ends with F, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
37 Down is TECTONICS, a 9-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with T and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
38 Down is HURT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
40 Down is TRON, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Down is SAAB, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with S and ends with B, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Down is YUL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with Y and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Down is TRIPPER, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
50 Down is TUMS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. 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.
52 Down is NSA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with N and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Down is STEAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with S and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is AORTA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is IOTAS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with I and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
56 Down is SORBO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is ONEAL, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with O and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is AMPS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
61 Down is TUTU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with T and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Down is YIN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with Y and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Down is LOG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with L and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
65 Down is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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.