WSJ Crossword July 12, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 12, 2026, “Home Turf,” is a Sunday puzzle by Jamey Smith with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek. The longest entry is GARDENGNOME 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 GIST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is KENO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with K and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
9 Across is SWIFT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
14 Across is ONTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is ABEL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is TENOR, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
17 Across is FLOWERBED, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with F and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
19 Across is RETRO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
20 Across is LOREAL, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with L and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Across is DEMI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 8. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is REP, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 13. It begins with R and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Across is AVERS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Across is WINDCHIME, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with W and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
27 Across is TED, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with T and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
28 Across is IPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
30 Across is STAGES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Across is PEORIA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with P and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Across is RUN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with R and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
35 Across is GARDENGNOME, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with G and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
38 Across is POS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with P and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Across is STAINS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
40 Across is SLATES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
43 Across is PBS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 9. It begins with P and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Across is CAW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with C and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
47 Across is WATERHOSE, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with W and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 9 letters.
50 Across is ALAMO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Across is ATF, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
53 Across is AURA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 5. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Across is CLAMOR, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
55 Across is TEAMS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Across is BYTHEYARD, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with B and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 9 letters.
59 Across is CARVE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
60 Across is INCA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 7. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is URAL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with U and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is HUMPS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
63 Across is TOUR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 7. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is POLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is GOFLAT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is INLOVE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is STORED, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is TOWER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
5 Down is KARL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with K and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
6 Down is EBB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with E and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
7 Down is NEEDI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with N and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is OLDEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is STRICT, a 6-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 6 letters.
10 Down is WEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
11 Down is INTRIGUE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
12 Down is FOREMEN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with F and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
13 Down is TROPES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Down is EASIER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with E and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Down is MDS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with M and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
25 Down is WARES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is HARMS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 12. It begins with H and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
29 Down is POD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with P and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
31 Down is PASTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Down is INT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with I and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is AGAPE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is GOATFARM, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with G and ends with M, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
36 Down is NIB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Down is ONSALE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
38 Down is PLATEAU, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with P and ends with U, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Down is SWATCH, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
41 Down is ERASES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with E and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
42 Down is SHU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with S and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
44 Down is CAMARO, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with C and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
45 Down is AMORAL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with A and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is WORDLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Down is ORBIT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Down is SAYNO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is LAYUP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with L and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is CHAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is MVP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 4. It begins with M and ends with P, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Down is TCU, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 9. It begins with T and ends with U, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Sunday grid contains 37 Across and 37 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Weekend puzzles at the Journal follow the same conventions as the weekday grids, with a title that hints at the theme and a difficulty a notch above midweek.
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.