WSJ Crossword July 1, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 1, 2026, “Perfunctory Performance,” is a Wednesday puzzle by Lynn Lempel with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking. The longest entry is HALFASSED at 9 letters.
Every answer is listed below in grid order, Across first and then Down, with a short explanation of how the entry sits in the grid. Use the Definition link under any entry to pull the dictionary meaning of the answer word, or click the clue to open its own page with past appearances and neighboring clues.
Across
1 Across is COP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Across is ALMA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
8 Across is SLEEVE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
14 Across is APE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
15 Across is RIOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with R and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is TINGED, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
17 Across is FIREARMS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with F and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
19 Across is ACTORS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
20 Across is NFLGAME, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 2. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
21 Across is BEATS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
22 Across is CEELO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is YAWL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with Y and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
25 Across is IRAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with I and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Across is ARCANE, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
29 Across is REPLICA, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with R and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
31 Across is DST, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
32 Across is SAME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is REPEL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with R and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is HALFASSED, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with H and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
39 Across is SUSAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is TOTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with T and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is SRI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
46 Across is APPRISE, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
48 Across is BUMPER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with B and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Across is PAIR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with P and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is ARTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
55 Across is NEEDS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with N and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
56 Across is TRUST, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
58 Across is ATTRACT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
60 Across is GRAMMY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
61 Across is REBUTTAL, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with R and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
63 Across is YELPER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with Y and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
64 Across is PEAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 8. It begins with P and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is EPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
66 Across is MESHES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with M and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
67 Across is SPRY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 8. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 4 letters.
68 Across is REX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with R and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is CAF, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with C and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is OPINERS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is PERFECT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with P and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is ARAGON, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is LIRA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with L and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is MOMMY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with M and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
7 Down is ATSEA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is STABLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is LICE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is ENTAILED, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with E and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is EGOTRIP, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with E and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
12 Down is VERSACE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with V and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is EDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
18 Down is ELLA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is CAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with C and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is WREST, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
26 Down is SAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with S and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Down is ESL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with E and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
30 Down is PRE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with P and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
33 Down is AFTER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is MAO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with M and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Down is HARRUMPH, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with H and ends with H, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
37 Down is ANI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is SOB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with S and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is SAP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is UPATREE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with U and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Down is SPIRALS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is SPECTER, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with S and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is REDTAPE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with R and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is IRS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with I and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
47 Down is SATYRS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
49 Down is UNRULY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with U and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Down is MEAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with M and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Down is TARPS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Down is STEEP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Down is SMEE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is TBAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with T and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
60 Down is GYM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with G and ends with M, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is LAX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with L and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Wednesday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 36 black squares. Wednesday grids sit in the middle of the week’s difficulty curve: the fill is mostly familiar, but the theme asks for a little lateral thinking.
Prefer to solve it yourself first? The homepage lists every clue for the latest puzzle without answers, and the archive covers every WSJ crossword in our index by date. The official puzzle is published on the WSJ Puzzles page.