WSJ Crossword July 21, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 21, 2026, “High Growth,” is a Tuesday puzzle by Justin Werfel with 76 clues on a 15×15 grid. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint. The longest entry is SOUTHERNROCK at 12 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 IMOPEN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with I and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
7 Across is ASS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Across is HAT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with H and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
13 Across is BUREAU, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with B and ends with U, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
14 Across is SOAP, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 8. It begins with S and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is OLE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 13. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
17 Across is ASGARD, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with A and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
18 Across is PURR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 8. It begins with P and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
19 Across is CAR, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 13. It begins with C and ends with R, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
20 Across is REY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
21 Across is LEI, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 5. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
23 Across is TIOMKIN, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 9. It begins with T and ends with N, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
25 Across is SYNTH, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 5. It begins with S and ends with H, with 0 vowels among its 5 letters.
27 Across is RAE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 11. It begins with R and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
28 Across is APPS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
32 Across is OTOE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 6. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
33 Across is ATYA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 11. It begins with A and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
35 Across is SEAT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
36 Across is GEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 6. It begins with G and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
37 Across is TURIN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 11. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is ESTIVAL, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with E and ends with L, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
41 Across is NEARING, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 9. It begins with N and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
43 Across is ATARI, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is LARS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 7. It begins with L and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
46 Across is ENTO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 12. It begins with E and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
47 Across is OFFS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 2. It begins with O 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.
48 Across is IGOT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 7. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
49 Across is SKIS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
50 Across is LRT, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with L and ends with T, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
51 Across is MECHA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Across is ADAYAGO, a 7-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with O, with 4 vowels among its 7 letters.
56 Across is KEN, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with K and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
57 Across is TYS, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with T and ends with S, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
60 Across is DEF, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with D and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
61 Across is ONUS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 5. It begins with O and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is TEHRAN, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with T and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
65 Across is ALL, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with A and ends with L, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
66 Across is SASH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 5. It begins with S and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is IAMALI, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 10. It begins with I and ends with I, with 4 vowels among its 6 letters.
68 Across is MIA, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with M and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
69 Across is WEE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with W and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
70 Across is CROPUP, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 10. It begins with C and ends with P, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
Down
1 Down is IBAR, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with I and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
2 Down is MUSE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is ORGY, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with O and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
4 Down is PEA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with P and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
5 Down is EARLS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. 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.
6 Down is NUDEYOGA, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with N and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
7 Down is ASP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with A and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is SOUTHERNROCK, a 12-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with S and ends with K, with 4 vowels among its 12 letters.
9 Down is SARI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with S and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Down is HOCKEYRINK, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with H and ends with K, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
11 Down is ALAI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
12 Down is TERN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
15 Down is PRORATA, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 2, column 11. It begins with P and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
22 Down is INTELLIMOUSE, a 12-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with I and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters.
24 Down is MATURES, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 12. It begins with M 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.
26 Down is TOA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
28 Down is ASEA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
29 Down is PESTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with P and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is PATAFLAFLA, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with P and ends with A, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters.
31 Down is STIRFRY, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 4. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 7 letters.
34 Down is AINTI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 14. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is NGOS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with N and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
40 Down is VISTAOS, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 5. It begins with V and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 7 letters.
42 Down is ESTHETIC, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 10. It begins with E and ends with C, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
45 Down is AGE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 8. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
52 Down is ANEAR, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 11. It begins with A and ends with R, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is ADAM, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
54 Down is DELI, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 2. It begins with D and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Down is GNAW, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 6. It begins with G and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is TRAP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
58 Down is YALU, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with Y and ends with U, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is SNIP, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with S and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
62 Down is SHE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with S and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
64 Down is HMO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 12. It begins with H and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Tuesday grid contains 42 Across and 34 Down entries, with 43 black squares and 28 circled squares that carry the theme. Tuesday puzzles stay approachable but start to introduce light wordplay in the theme entries, so keep an eye on the title for a hint.
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.