WSJ Crossword July 2, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 2, 2026, “Circular Reasoning,” is a Thursday puzzle by David Steinberg 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 RIGHTCROSS 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 SOFA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is SATUP, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
10 Across is WHIP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with W and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
14 Across is QUAD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with Q and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
15 Across is USAGE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with U and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
16 Across is IOTA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with I and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
17 Across is URLS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with U 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.
18 Across is RIGHTCROSS, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
20 Across is AHA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
21 Across is TEA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
22 Across is REDOS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with R 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.
23 Across is LEFTWING, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with L and ends with G, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Across is CASINO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with C and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
27 Across is OREOOS, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with O and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
28 Across is ADHD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with A and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
30 Across is EMU, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with E and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Across is ROLE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is USUAL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with U and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is SET, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
34 Across is SATSCORES, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
38 Across is CPR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C and ends with R, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
41 Across is SODAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 5. It begins with S and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
42 Across is LEND, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Across is LOO, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 1. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
47 Across is WRAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with W and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
48 Across is SKIDOO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
50 Across is APPLET, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
52 Across is SWEATING, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with S and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
54 Across is IDEAL, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with I and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is APT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with A and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Across is FOB, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with F and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is MIDDLEEAST, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with M and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
61 Across is BITE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
62 Across is EVIL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is TRITE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
64 Across is ACED, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
65 Across is DANE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is CARET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with C and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
67 Across is MESS, 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 SQUALOR, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with S and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
2 Down is OURHERO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with O and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
3 Down is FALAFEL, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with F and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
4 Down is ADS, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with A 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.
5 Down is SUREIS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with S and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
6 Down is ASIAN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with A and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is TAG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is UGH, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with U and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
9 Down is PET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is WIRES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with W and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is HOODIES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with H and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
12 Down is ITSONME, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
13 Down is PASSOUT, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with P and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
19 Down is CRADLE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 11. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
21 Down is TWO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with T and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is TOES, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with T 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.
25 Down is GASCAPS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with G and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
26 Down is CHAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Down is DUOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 9. It begins with D 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.
32 Down is USDA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with U and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Down is ASWELL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with A and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
36 Down is TORT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
37 Down is SLIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with S and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is CLAIMED, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with C and ends with D, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
39 Down is POPDIVA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
40 Down is ROPEDIN, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 3. It begins with R and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Down is EDIFICE, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with E and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
44 Down is NONOTES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 14. It begins with N and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
45 Down is DOGBEDS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 15. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
48 Down is SEPTET, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is KAT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 11. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
51 Down is LADLE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is WASTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
58 Down is ETC, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with E and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is AIR, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
61 Down is BAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with B and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 39 Across and 37 Down entries, with 36 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.