WSJ Crossword July 10, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 10, 2026, “Let’s Change Places,” is a Friday puzzle by Matt Gaffney with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution. The longest entry is BURKINIFAST at 11 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 SLOW, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is CHAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is STASH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Across is EINE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is NELL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with N and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
16 Across is POLKA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is CAVEVERSE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is EMAIL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is RBI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with R and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
21 Across is ETA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Across is ASNER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Across is ELEVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Across is LASTTIMER, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with L and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
30 Across is TEWA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
31 Across is DIVER, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with D and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is ITD, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with I and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Across is LIEBE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Across is ITASCA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 10. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Across is BURKINIFAST, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with B and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
40 Across is BEREAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with B and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
42 Across is UNEXT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with U and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
43 Across is AMA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Across is EDENS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with E 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.
46 Across is REST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with R and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
50 Across is HOSTARICE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with H and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
53 Across is LANKY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with L and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
54 Across is SULKS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
55 Across is EEG, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with E and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
57 Across is CUP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with C and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Across is RABBI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with R and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is SADMARINE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with S and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
63 Across is FLEET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with F and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is EDOM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with E and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is ANKA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is KIDDO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with K and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is DEFY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
68 Across is MOSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is SECRET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is LIABLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is ONVIEW, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with W, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is WEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
5 Down is CNET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with C and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is HERALIBI, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with H and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
7 Down is ALS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is PLEASE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with P and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is SPENT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
10 Down is TOMEI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with T and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is ALARMIST, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
12 Down is SKI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with S and ends with I, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is HAL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with H and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Down is VEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with V and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Down is STRIFES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Down is VALUE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with V and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Down is AVENUEC, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with A and ends with C, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
28 Down is ETC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Down is RDA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with R and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is DEKLERK, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with D and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
34 Down is IRA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
36 Down is TAX, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with T and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is ASTRA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is BRASSBED, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with B and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
39 Down is INNEEDOF, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with I and ends with F, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
40 Down is BAH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with B and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
41 Down is EMO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Down is DISSED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with D and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Down is ENCINO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with E and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is SKUNKS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
49 Down is TYPEAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
51 Down is TUBED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with T and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is ALITO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 5. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is LGA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with L and ends with A, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Down is EMMY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with E and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is RFK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with R and ends with K, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
59 Down is ALI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with A and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is ADE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
62 Down is RAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with R and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Friday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Friday is the Journal’s contest puzzle, so beyond filling the grid there is a hidden meta answer to deduce from the finished solution.
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.