WSJ Crossword July 20, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 20, 2026, “Hold On!,” is a Monday puzzle by Daniel Hrynick with 74 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is TREEHUGGERS 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 OTS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with O 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.
4 Across is FIST, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with F and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
8 Across is DISOWN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with D and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
14 Across is SON, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
15 Across is AWES, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 5. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is EMILIA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 10. It begins with E and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
17 Across is WOODTICK, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with W and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
19 Across is NINETY, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 10. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
20 Across is ANCIENT, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
21 Across is PINE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Across is LIAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with L and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
23 Across is SARANWRAP, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 7. It begins with S and ends with P, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
28 Across is DEPICT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with D and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Across is BOLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with B and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
32 Across is EPA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 13. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
33 Across is TRITON, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 4. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
35 Across is CEDED, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with C and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
37 Across is TREEHUGGERS, a 11-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with T and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 11 letters.
39 Across is MAFIA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is ITSANO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with I and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
42 Across is ALA, 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.
43 Across is MART, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with M and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
45 Across is MTDOOM, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with M and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Across is VELCRODOG, a 9-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with V and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 9 letters.
52 Across is INME, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
53 Across is AIRS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 4. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Across is AGENDAS, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
57 Across is NEEDNT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with N and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
60 Across is KLINGONS, a 8-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with K 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.
61 Across is USVISA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with U and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
62 Across is ALLY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 8. It begins with A and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
63 Across is PIE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 13. It begins with P and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
64 Across is BLAZES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with B and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
65 Across is YODA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 8. It begins with Y and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is ESS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 13. It begins with E and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
Down
1 Down is OSWALD, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with O and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
2 Down is TOONIE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with T and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
3 Down is SNOCAP, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
4 Down is FATE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Down is IWIN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with I and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is SECTS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with S 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.
7 Down is TSK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with T and ends with K, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
8 Down is DENIAL, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with D and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
9 Down is IMINNOCENT, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 11. It begins with I and ends with T, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
10 Down is SINEW, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with S and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
11 Down is OLE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
12 Down is WIT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with W and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Down is NAY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with N and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
18 Down is DIMITRI, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 4. It begins with D and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
21 Down is PRONGS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with P 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.
24 Down is ABOUTTO, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with A and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Down is REDS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 13. It begins with R and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Down is APE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 14. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
27 Down is PAD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 15. It begins with P and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
29 Down is CREAMRINSE, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with C and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
30 Down is TIE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
34 Down is THIRDS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
36 Down is ERODING, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with E and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
37 Down is TFAL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 3. It begins with T and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
38 Down is GAM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with G and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
39 Down is MAV, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with M and ends with V, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Down is ALE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 2. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
44 Down is AORTAS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 6. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
46 Down is ONDOPE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 13. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
47 Down is OMANIS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 14. It begins with O and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
48 Down is MESSES, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 15. It begins with M 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.
50 Down is CADIZ, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 4. It begins with C and ends with Z, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is GALLO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with G and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Down is GILD, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 10. It begins with G and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
56 Down is ENYA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
57 Down is NUB, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with N and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
58 Down is ESL, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 2. It begins with E and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is EVA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 3. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Down is KAY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with K and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 35 Across and 39 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
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.