Pique condition? crossword clue
34 Across · WSJ Crossword, July 9, 2026 · 3 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Pique condition?” is IRE. It appears as 34 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of July 9, 2026, a Thursday puzzle titled “Dress Code” by Sam Koperwas & Jeff Chen, and it fills 3 squares running left to right from row 8, column 1 of the 15×15 grid.
The question mark at the end of the clue signals wordplay: the surface reading is a misdirection, and the answer fits a punning or figurative sense of the words. The entry begins with I and ends with E, and contains 2 vowels and 1 consonant. 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 IRE:
- Burning feelingAug 25, 2026
- RageJul 28, 2026
- AngerJul 26, 2026
- FuryJun 4, 2026
- IndignationMay 20, 2026