WSJ Crossword hints and answers for May 9, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across69
Down71
TitleShifters
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
Top-notch (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPRIMO→
6A
“Spectre” star (5)
Starts with C, ends with GCRAIG→
11A
Like planes, for short (4)
Starts with T, ends with DTWOD→
15A
Baloney (4)
Starts with B, ends with HBOSH→
19A
Like columns with scroll volutes (5)
Starts with I, ends with CIONIC→
20A
Christina of “Sleepy Hollow” (5)
Starts with R, ends with IRICCI→
21A
Take on (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHIRE→
22A
“The Grapes of Wrath” epithet (4)
Starts with O, ends with EOKIE→
23A
Opponent of adopting the metric system’s liter? (11)
Starts with Q, ends with RQUARTBACKER→
25A
Look from an angry helmsman? (9)
Starts with A, ends with RAFTGLOWER→
27A
Gastropod (8)
Starts with U, ends with EUNIVALVE→
28A
Ballot rosters (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSLATES→
30A
Simple dress shape (5)
Starts with A, ends with EALINE→
31A
Roush in the Baseball Hall of Fame (3)
Starts with E, ends with DEDD→
32A
Expected (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDUE→
33A
Adjust (6)
Starts with M, ends with YMODIFY→
34A
Stratovolcano overlooking the Medit. (6)
Starts with M, ends with AMTETNA→
35A
Call upon (3)
Starts with U, ends with EUSE→
36A
Mena of “American Pie” (6)
Starts with S, ends with ISUVARI→
37A
Versailles VIP (3)
Starts with R, ends with IROI→
38A
Busker’s tip collector (3)
Starts with H, ends with THAT→
39A
Triumphant cry (4)
Starts with I, ends with NIWON→
42A
Executed perfectly (6)
Starts with N, ends with DNAILED→
44A
Day, to Donatello (6)
Starts with G, ends with OGIORNO→
47A
Item in a numismatist’s file cabinet? (10)
Starts with C, ends with RCENTFOLDER→
49A
Author following a long session autographing books? (10)
Starts with N, ends with RNUMBSIGNER→
53A
“Down,” in diner lingo (7)
Starts with O, ends with TONTOAST→
54A
Oscar winner Matlin (6)
Starts with M, ends with EMARLEE→
55A
Full-flavored, perhaps (4)
Starts with R, ends with ERIPE→
56A
Extreme power (3)
Starts with N, ends with HNTH→
57A
Some summer babies (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLEOS→
59A
Small parts (6)
Starts with C, ends with SCAMEOS→
60A
1917 newsmaker (5)
Starts with L, ends with NLENIN→
61A
Rock’s J. ___ Band (5)
Starts with G, ends with SGEILS→
63A
Set of steps (7)
Starts with P, ends with SPROCESS→
65A
Umbrella inverters (5)
Starts with G, ends with SGUSTS→
66A
Complains (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCARPS→
67A
Shady areas (6)
Starts with G, ends with SGROVES→
68A
Soft mineral (4)
Starts with T, ends with CTALC→
70A
Long stretch (3)
Starts with E, ends with NEON→
72A
Oaxaca water (4)
Starts with A, ends with AAGUA→
73A
Pretenses (6)
Starts with G, ends with SGUISES→
74A
“Sorry, out of the question” (7)
Starts with N, ends with ONOCANDO→
76A
Result of some polishing at Hogwarts? (10)
Starts with W, ends with RWANDLUSTER→
78A
Person in charge of maintaining the ship’s spars? (10)
Starts with M, ends with RMASTMINDER→
81A
Quintet of faculties (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSENSES→
82A
Presses Ctrl+V (6)
Starts with P, ends with SPASTES→
83A
Stellar spectacle (4)
Starts with N, ends with ANOVA→
84A
Research setting (3)
Starts with L, ends with BLAB→
87A
Home improvement initials (3)
Starts with D, ends with YDIY→
88A
Park near Bar Harbor (6)
Starts with A, ends with AACADIA→
90A
Poetic tribute (3)
Starts with O, ends with EODE→
92A
Classic 1950 sci-fi collection (6)
Starts with I, ends with TIROBOT→
94A
Roman emperor succeeded by Hadrian (6)
Starts with T, ends with NTRAJAN→
95A
Basis of some vaccines (3)
Starts with R, ends with ARNA→
96A
Filing pro (3)
Starts with C, ends with ACPA→
99A
Decorative design (5)
Starts with M, ends with FMOTIF→
100A
Quick to put up, perhaps (6)
Starts with P, ends with BPREFAB→
101A
Is really hurtful (8)
Starts with C, ends with PCUTSDEEP→
103A
Brochure advertising shape-enhancing underwear? (9)
Starts with B, ends with RBUTTFLYER→
105A
Insect staying at a guesthouse? (11)
Starts with M, ends with RMOTHBOARDER→
107A
Part of a chain (4)
Starts with I, ends with EISLE→
108A
“Love in a Village” composer (4)
Starts with A, ends with EARNE→
109A
Hearing-related (5)
Starts with A, ends with LAURAL→
110A
El ___ Día (Puerto Rico newspaper) (5)
Starts with N, ends with ONUEVO→
111A
Fair marks (4)
Starts with C, ends with SCEES→
112A
Sondheim’s Sweeney (4)
Starts with T, ends with DTODD→
113A
“Gypsy” composer Jule (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESTYNE→
114A
“The Wild Duck” playwright (5)
Starts with I, ends with NIBSEN→
Down
1D
Petulant feeling (5)
Starts with P, ends with EPIQUE→
2D
Generous bar buy (5)
Starts with R, ends with DROUND→
3D
Grant-___ (5)
Starts with I, ends with DINAID→
4D
Missile with multiple warheads (4)
Starts with M, ends with VMIRV→
5D
Ivy League schools and Santa’s reindeer, e.g. (6)
Starts with O, ends with SOCTADS→
6D
Want desperately (5)
Starts with C, ends with ECRAVE→
7D
Sushi staple (4)
Starts with R, ends with ERICE→
8D
Dismayed shout (3)
Starts with A, ends with KACK→
9D
Becomes slick, in a way (8)
Starts with I, ends with RICESOVER→
10D
Father who empowers his daughters (7)
Starts with G, ends with DGIRLDAD→
11D
“Of course!” (11)
Starts with T, ends with STHATFIGURES→
12D
The missus, informally (5)
Starts with W, ends with YWIFEY→
13D
Table scraps (4)
Starts with O, ends with SORTS→
14D
Coll. reward (3)
Starts with D, ends with GDEG→
15D
Symbolic logician George (5)
Starts with B, ends with EBOOLE→
16D
Accepting of, informally (6)
Starts with O, ends with HOKWITH→
17D
Earthy pigment (6)
Starts with S, ends with ASIENNA→
18D
As a result of this, quaintly (6)
Starts with H, ends with THEREAT→
24D
Puritanical people (9)
Starts with B, ends with SBLUENOSES→
26D
Course in which “amo, amas, amat” is learned (6)
Starts with L, ends with ILATINI→
29D
Hang out (3)
Starts with A, ends with RAIR→
33D
Plow puller (4)
Starts with M, ends with EMULE→
34D
Inspector of British mysteries (5)
Starts with M, ends with EMORSE→
35D
“Render ___ Caesar...” (4)
Starts with U, ends with OUNTO→
36D
Caesar of comedy (3)
Starts with S, ends with DSID→
37D
Judicial attire (5)
Starts with R, ends with SROBES→
39D
Pic to click (4)
Starts with I, ends with NICON→
40D
Flipped (8)
Starts with W, ends with AWENTGAGA→
41D
Like a fugitive (8)
Starts with O, ends with NONTHERUN→
43D
Choir member (4)
Starts with A, ends with OALTO→
45D
“You’re going to have to explain this in simpler terms” (6)
Starts with I, ends with TIMLOST→
46D
Fantasy creatures (5)
Starts with O, ends with SOGRES→
48D
Angel in Venezuela (5)
Starts with F, ends with SFALLS→
49D
When doubled, sings (5)
Starts with N, ends with SNAMES→
50D
Switch maker (8)
Starts with N, ends with ONINTENDO→
51D
“The Empire Strikes Back,” in the “Star Wars” series (8)
Starts with E, ends with VEPISODEV→
52D
Kylo ___, of “Star Wars” (3)
Starts with R, ends with NREN→
54D
Spiked clubs (5)
Starts with M, ends with SMACES→
58D
Fantasy creature (6)
Starts with S, ends with ESPRITE→
59D
Assumed identity (5)
Starts with C, ends with RCOVER→
60D
Susan of soaps (5)
Starts with L, ends with ILUCCI→
62D
Targets for Apple Pencils (5)
Starts with I, ends with SIPADS→
64D
Start of a lover’s verse (11)
Starts with R, ends with DROSESARERED→
65D
Seizes, in slang (9)
Starts with G, ends with OGLOMSONTO→
66D
Crow call (3)
Starts with C, ends with WCAW→
67D
Dress (up) (5)
Starts with G, ends with YGUSSY→
69D
Poker payment (4)
Starts with A, ends with EANTE→
71D
Writer/director Ephron (4)
Starts with N, ends with ANORA→
73D
Put the pedal to the metal (5)
Starts with G, ends with TGUNIT→
75D
One of the Brontës (4)
Starts with A, ends with EANNE→
77D
Batted first (6)
Starts with L, ends with FLEDOFF→
78D
Really digging (8)
Starts with M, ends with TMADABOUT→
79D
B-boy link (4)
Starts with A, ends with NASIN→
80D
Penn in NYC (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASTA→
82D
Evening wear, of a sort (7)
Starts with P, ends with SPAJAMAS→
84D
Of the system affecting instinct and mood (6)
Starts with L, ends with CLIMBIC→
85D
Stir up (6)
Starts with A, ends with EAROUSE→
86D
Wine store buy (6)
Starts with B, ends with EBOTTLE→
89D
Jolting joe, informally (3)
Starts with C, ends with FCAF→
91D
Aquafina rival (6)
Starts with D, ends with IDASANI→
93D
Appetizers (5)
Starts with B, ends with SBITES→
94D
Market direction (5)
Starts with T, ends with DTREND→
95D
Moscow money (5)
Starts with R, ends with ERUBLE→
96D
Hands over (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCEDES→
97D
Irritate (5)
Starts with P, ends with EPEEVE→
98D
Spill protection (5)
Starts with A, ends with NAPRON→
100D
Firebug (4)
Starts with P, ends with OPYRO→
101D
Jackie of action films (4)
Starts with C, ends with NCHAN→
102D
Soundly defeat (4)
Starts with D, ends with BDRUB→
104D
Muscle targeted on a rowing machine (3)
Starts with L, ends with TLAT→
106D
Put to the test (3)
Starts with T, ends with YTRY→
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 9, 2026?+
140 clues: 69 Across and 71 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Mike Shenk and edited by Mike Shenk.
What are some answers in today’s WSJ Crossword?+
For example: Top-notch (PRIMO); “Spectre” star (CRAIG); Like planes, for short (TWOD).
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.
