Not strict crossword clue
34 Across · WSJ Crossword, July 23, 2026 · 3 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Not strict” is LAX. It appears as 34 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of July 23, 2026, a Thursday puzzle titled “Passions Run Deep” by Matt Gaffney, and it fills 3 squares running left to right from row 7, column 13 of the 15×15 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 L and ends with X, and contains 1 vowel and 2 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer LAX:
- LenientAug 23, 2026
- Overly indulgentAug 19, 2026
- IndulgentJul 1, 2026