Southern city, briefly crossword clue
16 Across · WSJ Crossword, July 23, 2026 · 4 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Southern city, briefly” is NOLA. It appears as 16 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of July 23, 2026, a Thursday puzzle titled “Passions Run Deep” by Matt Gaffney, and it fills 4 squares running left to right from row 2, column 12 of the 15×15 grid.
The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials rather than a full word. The entry begins with N and ends with A, and contains 2 vowels 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 NOLA:
- Mardi Gras city, familiarlyAug 10, 2026
- Mardi Gras city, familiarlyAug 7, 2026
- City known for beignets, brieflyAug 6, 2026
- City famous for po’ boysMay 16, 2026