WSJ Crossword hints and answers for May 16, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across67
Down73
TitleF Is For...
Today’s WSJ Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
1A
Place in an overhead bin (4)
Starts with S, ends with WSTOW→
5A
Polite address (5)
Starts with M, ends with MMADAM→
10A
Some sports trophies (4)
Starts with C, ends with SCUPS→
14A
Knee parts often examined by MRIs (4)
Starts with A, ends with SACLS→
18A
High wind in a pit (4)
Starts with O, ends with EOBOE→
19A
Superior to (5)
Starts with A, ends with EABOVE→
20A
Perched upon (4)
Starts with A, ends with PATOP→
21A
Bender for a spender (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESPREE→
22A
System of degrees (15)
Starts with F, ends with EFAHRENHEITSCALE→
25A
Want badly (5)
Starts with C, ends with ECRAVE→
26A
TV Hall of fame (7)
Starts with A, ends with OARSENIO→
27A
It’s numbered XIII in a tarot deck (5)
Starts with D, ends with HDEATH→
28A
Sang like Crosby (7)
Starts with C, ends with DCROONED→
30A
NHL team that plays in the same arena as the NBA’s Mavericks (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSTARS→
32A
One might control a PC’s volume or brightness (11)
Starts with F, ends with YFUNCTIONKEY→
34A
Mass-consumed item (5)
Starts with W, ends with RWAFER→
37A
Tea treats (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSCONES→
40A
Kicks back (5)
Starts with R, ends with SRESTS→
41A
New Hampshire prep school (6)
Starts with E, ends with REXETER→
43A
Wall St. debuts (4)
Starts with I, ends with SIPOS→
44A
Jemima of “Girls” (5)
Starts with K, ends with EKIRKE→
45A
What a buzzkill kills (3)
Starts with F, ends with NFUN→
48A
JFK or AOC, e.g. (3)
Starts with D, ends with MDEM→
49A
Designer of the internal structural framework for the Statue of Liberty (6)
Starts with E, ends with LEIFFEL→
51A
Rustic lodgings (3)
Starts with I, ends with NINN→
52A
Security desk request (6)
Starts with I, ends with DIDCARD→
54A
High-five sound (4)
Starts with S, ends with PSLAP→
56A
Prime time for a high school game (11)
Starts with F, ends with TFRIDAYNIGHT→
59A
One of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” (4)
Starts with O, ends with AOLGA→
60A
Ali who retired at 24-0 (5)
Starts with L, ends with ALAILA→
62A
Much-lauded Lauder (5)
Starts with E, ends with EESTEE→
63A
Sneaky tricks (5)
Starts with R, ends with SRUSES→
64A
Prepare for a touchdown (7)
Starts with D, ends with DDESCEND→
66A
Minneapolis winter hrs. (3)
Starts with C, ends with TCST→
67A
Tough situations (7)
Starts with S, ends with SSCRAPES→
69A
Obscene material (5)
Starts with F, ends with HFILTH→
70A
Nikon rival (5)
Starts with C, ends with NCANON→
72A
Electrical engineer Nikola (5)
Starts with T, ends with ATESLA→
73A
Piece of one’s mind? (4)
Starts with I, ends with AIDEA→
74A
Antagonistic presence in a fantasy novel (11)
Starts with F, ends with LFORCEOFEVIL→
78A
Panache (4)
Starts with E, ends with NELAN→
81A
Complete disaster (6)
Starts with F, ends with OFIASCO→
83A
Bento box part (3)
Starts with L, ends with DLID→
84A
Vikander of “The Danish Girl” (6)
Starts with A, ends with AALICIA→
86A
Sparky the Sun Devil’s sch. (3)
Starts with A, ends with UASU→
87A
Extremity (3)
Starts with E, ends with DEND→
88A
Course units (5)
Starts with H, ends with SHOLES→
90A
Roomy ride (4)
Starts with L, ends with OLIMO→
91A
Azadi Tower site (6)
Starts with T, ends with NTEHRAN→
93A
Household health hazard (5)
Starts with R, ends with NRADON→
94A
King of pop (6)
Starts with C, ends with ECAROLE→
96A
Lopsided victories (5)
Starts with R, ends with SROMPS→
97A
Lightest halogen (11)
Starts with F, ends with SFLUORINEGAS→
101A
Book review? (5)
Starts with A, ends with TAUDIT→
103A
Anchor’s run (7)
Starts with L, ends with GLASTLEG→
104A
Beast of Borden (5)
Starts with E, ends with EELSIE→
107A
Alternatives to mutton chops (7)
Starts with G, ends with SGOATEES→
111A
Come together (5)
Starts with U, ends with EUNITE→
112A
Choke at a critical moment (15)
Starts with F, ends with HFAILINTHECLUTCH→
115A
Sources of ruin (5)
Starts with B, ends with SBANES→
116A
Two-tone predator (4)
Starts with O, ends with AORCA→
117A
How most manga is drawn (5)
Starts with I, ends with KININK→
118A
Like feet in yoga class (4)
Starts with B, ends with EBARE→
119A
Converse manually (4)
Starts with S, ends with NSIGN→
120A
Some Kia sedans (4)
Starts with R, ends with SRIOS→
121A
Secures, as gift wrap (5)
Starts with T, ends with STAPES→
122A
Poker variety (4)
Starts with S, ends with DSTUD→
Down
1D
Remote location (4)
Starts with S, ends with ASOFA→
2D
Lift for snowboarders (4)
Starts with T, ends with RTBAR→
3D
Sounds of wonder (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOOHS→
4D
“No more for us, thanks” (7)
Starts with W, ends with TWERESET→
5D
Widespread fad (5)
Starts with M, ends with AMANIA→
6D
Can’t stand at all (6)
Starts with A, ends with SABHORS→
7D
Fawning mother (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDOE→
8D
Extremely eager (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAVID→
9D
Dole (out) (4)
Starts with M, ends with EMETE→
10D
Nesting place for an elf owl (6)
Starts with C, ends with SCACTUS→
11D
Many a Jazz fan (5)
Starts with U, ends with NUTAHN→
12D
D.C. figure (3)
Starts with P, ends with LPOL→
13D
Ghostly vision (7)
Starts with S, ends with RSPECTER→
14D
Cooks’ cover-ups (6)
Starts with A, ends with SAPRONS→
15D
Jack-in-the-box part (5)
Starts with C, ends with KCRANK→
16D
Bank security feature (5)
Starts with L, ends with ELEVEE→
17D
Far from ritzy (5)
Starts with S, ends with YSEEDY→
21D
Slid while seated (7)
Starts with S, ends with DSCOOTED→
23D
Menu choice (6)
Starts with E, ends with EENTREE→
24D
Jewelry stores? (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSAFES→
29D
Take a chance (6)
Starts with R, ends with TRISKIT→
31D
Genre for “Project Hail Mary” (5)
Starts with S, ends with ISCIFI→
33D
Shrinks in fear (7)
Starts with C, ends with SCRINGES→
34D
Ties the knot (4)
Starts with W, ends with SWEDS→
35D
Jump on the ice (4)
Starts with A, ends with LAXEL→
36D
Stone part, often (10)
Starts with F, ends with DFEMALELEAD→
38D
Piece with a perspective (4)
Starts with O, ends with DOPED→
39D
City famous for po’ boys (4)
Starts with N, ends with ANOLA→
42D
Biathlete’s need (5)
Starts with R, ends with ERIFLE→
44D
Work with needles (4)
Starts with K, ends with TKNIT→
45D
Annoyance for firefighters (10)
Starts with F, ends with MFALSEALARM→
46D
Suggests strongly (5)
Starts with U, ends with SURGES→
47D
Leak-preventing docs (4)
Starts with N, ends with SNDAS→
50D
Dave of “Now You See Me” (6)
Starts with F, ends with OFRANCO→
51D
Tech sch. (4)
Starts with I, ends with TINST→
53D
Anniversary celebrant (6)
Starts with C, ends with ECOUPLE→
55D
Many trattoria dishes (6)
Starts with P, ends with SPASTAS→
57D
Binary question type (5)
Starts with Y, ends with OYESNO→
58D
Like newsrooms close to press time (6)
Starts with H, ends with CHECTIC→
61D
I, in Innsbruck (3)
Starts with I, ends with HICH→
63D
Dorm supervisors (3)
Starts with R, ends with SRAS→
64D
Totally ruined (5)
Starts with D, ends with NDIDIN→
65D
Love of music (7)
Starts with D, ends with EDARLENE→
66D
Like intramural sports, often (4)
Starts with C, ends with DCOED→
68D
Kindled again (5)
Starts with R, ends with TRELIT→
69D
Instrument in a military band (4)
Starts with F, ends with EFIFE→
71D
CBS series since 2003 (4)
Starts with N, ends with SNCIS→
74D
Fan of fine cuisine (6)
Starts with F, ends with EFOODIE→
75D
“Point taken” (4)
Starts with F, ends with RFAIR→
76D
Muppet with an orange nose (4)
Starts with E, ends with OELMO→
77D
Cello’s cousin (5)
Starts with V, ends with AVIOLA→
79D
“Right away!” (4)
Starts with A, ends with PASAP→
80D
Creatures of habit? (4)
Starts with N, ends with SNUNS→
82D
2023 crown recipient (7)
Starts with C, ends with SCHARLES→
85D
Like drone shots (6)
Starts with A, ends with LAERIAL→
89D
Deeply desire (7)
Starts with L, ends with RLONGFOR→
90D
Yogurt-based drink (5)
Starts with L, ends with ILASSI→
92D
Spa fixtures (7)
Starts with H, ends with SHOTTUBS→
93D
Way past ripe (6)
Starts with R, ends with NROTTEN→
94D
Opera’s “La Divina” (6)
Starts with C, ends with SCALLAS→
95D
City 60 miles south of Salem (6)
Starts with E, ends with EEUGENE→
97D
Bungles (5)
Starts with F, ends with SFLUBS→
98D
Beach house feature (5)
Starts with L, ends with ILANAI→
99D
Putting into practice (5)
Starts with U, ends with GUSING→
100D
State Farm competitor (5)
Starts with G, ends with OGEICO→
102D
Cruise ship stops (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDOCKS→
105D
Monogram pt. (4)
Starts with I, ends with TINIT→
106D
Volcano on Sicily (4)
Starts with E, ends with AETNA→
108D
Coup d’___ (4)
Starts with E, ends with TETAT→
109D
Pale creamy shade (4)
Starts with E, ends with UECRU→
113D
R&B singer Lennox (3)
Starts with A, ends with IARI→
114D
Femur terminus (3)
Starts with H, ends with PHIP→
How to solve the WSJ Crossword
Fill the grid so every Across and Down answer matches its clue. The title hints at the theme, and on Fridays a final instruction asks for the meta answer. Our answer pages list every clue with its answer behind a reveal button.
Want the full method? Read our WSJ Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the WSJ Crossword on the hub.
WSJ Crossword tips for tomorrow
- Read the title first. WSJ titles are precise. They usually describe exactly how the theme entries are transformed.
- Solve Friday twice. Fill the grid, then look for a pattern in the theme entries that spells or points to the meta answer.
- Learn the editor's style. Mike Shenk favours tight wordplay. A clue that seems too literal probably has a second reading.
Done for today? Try NYT Crossword, LA Times Crossword, Newsday Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous WSJ Crossword puzzles
WSJ Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the WSJ Crossword for May 16, 2026?+
140 clues: 67 Across and 73 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Zhouqin Burnikel and edited by Mike Shenk.
What are some answers in today’s WSJ Crossword?+
For example: Place in an overhead bin (STOW); Polite address (MADAM); Some sports trophies (CUPS).
Who edits the WSJ Crossword?+
Mike Shenk has edited the Wall Street Journal Crossword since its launch.
Where can I find past WSJ Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all answers and a page per clue.
