HomeJuly 24, 202620 Across

Draconian crossword clue

20 Across · WSJ Crossword, July 24, 2026 · 5 letters

Answer
CRUEL
CRUEL (5 letters)

Explanation

The answer to “Draconian” is CRUEL. It appears as 20 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of July 24, 2026, a Friday puzzle titled “It All Adds Up” by Gary Larson & Amy Ensz, and it fills 5 squares running left to right from row 2, column 17 of the 21×21 grid.

The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with C and ends with L, and contains 2 vowels and 3 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Friday puzzles are the Journal’s contest crosswords with a hidden meta answer, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.

Past appearances

Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer CRUEL:

Other clues from this puzzle

Full answers and explanations for July 24, 2026 ›