WSJ Crossword July 23, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 23, 2026, “Passions Run Deep,” is a Thursday puzzle by Matt Gaffney 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 THREEFACESOFEVE at 15 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 DELIS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
6 Across is OPEC, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
10 Across is IDOL, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is ARENA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
15 Across is NEER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 7. It begins with N and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
16 Across is NOLA, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
17 Across is NATALIEZEA, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with N and ends with A, with 6 vowels among its 10 letters.
19 Across is FUSS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with F and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
20 Across is WEBB, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 4. It begins with W and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
21 Across is WHALES, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 10. It begins with W 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.
23 Across is HASH, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with H and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
26 Across is ECCODOMANI, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with E and ends with I, with 5 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Across is ALHIRT, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 1. It begins with A and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
31 Across is HOAGY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 8. It begins with H and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
32 Across is DOILY, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with D and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
33 Across is LEWD, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with L and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
34 Across is LAX, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with L and ends with X, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
37 Across is THREEFACESOFEVE, a 15-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with T and ends with E, with 7 vowels among its 15 letters.
41 Across is OAK, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with O and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
42 Across is LUKE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with L and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
43 Across is HAVEN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 11. It begins with H and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
44 Across is LOIRE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
46 Across is TOLEDO, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with T and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
47 Across is DRBARNARDO, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with D and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
51 Across is SEAN, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 12. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
52 Across is AIRBAG, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with A and ends with G, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
53 Across is OOZE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 9. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
55 Across is CLEO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with C and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
56 Across is SCARLETTJO, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with S and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
62 Across is HEAR, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with H and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
63 Across is AUDI, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with A and ends with I, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is STAFF, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 11. It begins with S and ends with F, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
65 Across is ASKS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with A 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.
66 Across is TEDS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with T and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
67 Across is TONKA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 11. It begins with T and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
Down
1 Down is DAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with D and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
2 Down is ERA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with E and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
3 Down is LET, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with L and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
4 Down is INAWHILE, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with I and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters.
5 Down is SALE, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 5. It begins with S and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
6 Down is ONEBC, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with O and ends with C, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is PEZ, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with P and ends with Z, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
8 Down is EEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 3 letters.
9 Down is CRAWDADS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with C and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
10 Down is INFAMY, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
11 Down is DOULA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with D and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
12 Down is OLSEN, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with O and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is LASSI, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with L and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is IBET, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 6. It begins with I and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
22 Down is HOG, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with H and ends with G, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
23 Down is HADTO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 1. It begins with H and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
24 Down is ALOHA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 2. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
25 Down is SHIRK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 3. It begins with S and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
27 Down is CHECKER, a 7-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 8. It begins with C and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 7 letters.
28 Down is OOWEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 9. It begins with O and ends with E, with 4 vowels among its 5 letters.
30 Down is RYE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 5. It begins with R and ends with E, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is LAURA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with L and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
34 Down is LEVEE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 13. It begins with L and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
35 Down is AVEDA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
36 Down is XENON, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with X and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
38 Down is FLINGSAT, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 6. It begins with F and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 8 letters.
39 Down is OHO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with O and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
40 Down is FALSETTO, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 12. It begins with F and ends with O, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
44 Down is LABORS, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 4. It begins with L 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.
45 Down is ORA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Down is TOOL, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with T and ends with L, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
47 Down is DACHA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with D and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
48 Down is RILES, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. 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.
49 Down is BREAK, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 3. It begins with B and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is DORIS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with D and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
54 Down is ZEST, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with Z and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
57 Down is CUE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 7. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
58 Down is ADD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 8. It begins with A and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
59 Down is TAN, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 13. It begins with T and ends with N, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
60 Down is JFK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 14. It begins with J and ends with K, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters. The shortening cue in the clue tells you to expect an abbreviation or initials.
61 Down is OFA, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 15. It begins with O and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Thursday grid contains 35 Across and 41 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.