WSJ Crossword July 16, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 16, 2026, “Pitch In,” is a Thursday puzzle by Mike Shenk with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place. The longest entry is OKCOMPUTER at 10 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 KNIT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
5 Across is TGIF, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
9 Across is CORK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
13 Across is NINO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with N and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is SHAKO, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with S and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is ARIA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is OKCOMPUTER, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with O and ends with R, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
18 Across is SCAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
19 Across is WEAKSIDE, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with W and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
20 Across is ASKANT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
22 Across is ODES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
23 Across is ALOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with A and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Across is DODOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with D 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.
26 Across is SHOOTOUT, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
30 Across is GRADS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with G and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
31 Across is LAST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
32 Across is BRO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with B and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Across is RATS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with R 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.
34 Across is AFUSS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Across is BOGS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with B 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.
37 Across is ONE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Across is ACER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Across is GLEES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with G and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
40 Across is WORLDCUP, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with W and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
42 Across is CLASS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
43 Across is IZOD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with I and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
44 Across is ALEC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
45 Across is LOOKER, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with L and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
48 Across is SLEEKEST, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with S and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
52 Across is ONCE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is DECAFMOCHA, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with D and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
55 Across is CITI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with C and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is EXAMS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with E and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
57 Across is PHIL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with P and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Across is KNOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
59 Across is DEMO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
60 Across is SOAK, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with S and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is KNOW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with K and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
2 Down is NIKE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with N and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is INCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with I and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is TOOKODDS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with T and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is THUDS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
6 Down is GATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with G and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
7 Down is IKE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is FORALOSS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with F and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
9 Down is CASKET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
10 Down is ORCA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
11 Down is RIAN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with R and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is KANT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Down is SPIES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with S 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.
17 Down is MSDOS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with M and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
21 Down is SOOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Down is AHAS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
24 Down is DRANO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with D and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is OATER, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with O and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
26 Down is SLURP, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Down is OBOES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
28 Down is URGES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with U 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.
29 Down is TOSS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 15. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Down is GROW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with G and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Down is ACCORDED, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with A and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
35 Down is FEUD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with F and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Down is BLACKOPS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
38 Down is ADZE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
39 Down is GLEEM, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with G and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Down is LIKEIT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with L and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
42 Down is CLEFS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with C and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
44 Down is ALAMO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with A and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
45 Down is LOCK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with L and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Down is ONIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Down is OCTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 3. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
48 Down is SCAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 8. It begins with S and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
49 Down is ECHO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
50 Down is SHIA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
51 Down is TALK, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with T and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
54 Down is EXE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 37 Across and 39 Down entries, with 40 black squares. Thursday puzzles lean harder on misdirection, and the theme often has a twist that only becomes clear once a few of the long entries are in place.
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.